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A ^PPUEC^INA^GE Inc 

=".= -SSter, New ror. '4609 USA 

'-^^ ' / *93 - 0500 - Pho've 



CarnegteEiiddwnientjf^ Peace 



«yi$ieK or BXMfoi^ vi»msmf 



wmwm mmm strnm m immm 






Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 



DIVISION OF ECONOMICS AND HISTORY 

)OHN BATES CLAHK. DIRECTOR 



PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC SIUDIES OF THE WAR 



EDITKU BY 
DAVID KINLKY 

Profeitor of Politicil Economy. Vniveriity of Illlnoit 
Mrmber of Committee of Kemrch ot the Kcdowmcnt 

No. n 



EFFECTS OF THE GREAT WAR UPON 

ACiRICULTURE IN THE UNITED 

STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN 

HY 

BENJAMIN H. HIBRARD 

Profc^scir c'f AL'riiultural Kconimilcs, 
Unixcrsity of W'i- 1 (.iisiii 



NKW YORK 

OXFORD UMVFRSITY PRESS 

AMERICAN nRANCJI: 35 WtsT 32md SimtT 
LONUON, KJKONTO. MEi.HOURNE. AND BOMBAY 

1919 



COPYRKiHT imii 

HV THE 

CARNEGIE KNnoWMKNT FdR INTKKN \ TIONAI I'EACE 

2 jArKSON I'UCE, W'ASHINr.TdN. D C 



EDITOR'S PREFACE 



X(.-viT l-clMfc ill tin- lii^t(iry of war lia> tlii' loud c|iK'>ticiii 
])Iayi(| M) lar^;i.' a pan a-- iii tju' prc-riit world war. 'I'liis i, iriii- 
hotli U-caiiM.' a lar;;iT "irca \va> cut oil' from proiliicuoii on account 
of the ilrait of laborers into the armies and aUo liccau^c irati^- 
portation ha-> hccn prohahly more diilicult than c\cr before. 
L luloubtedly. ilure \va> a time within the pa-t three vears when 
a large part oi the world was on the verj;e of starvation liecaiise 
of shortage of supplies. Owin^; to lieroic measures adojited hy 
warrintj countries, and more e-jiecially hy our own, ue avoided 
tliis cala-trophe. 

(M Course, the dithculty wa> seen early hy the countries at 
war and measures were taken not only to increase their (jwii [iro- 
duction, Init to reduce conMimption as far as i)os>il)le. lie fore 
we entered the war we had become, in a lar;;e dei,'ree. the source 
(jf the world's food supjily. On our entry the dutv of teeilinj^ 
the world lay upon us still more heavily, for we had not only 
to care tor c,ur iieojile at liome, but for our soldiers abroad, 
and supply- a lar-e part of the toon of our allies. Here, as in 
(ireat liritain, the measures were of tw(j kinds, the stinuilatioii 
of production and conservation in consumption. 

.\t the oiienin^r ,,f the war we had no patent plan or policy of 
natu)nal scope witli reference to agricultural production nor^ in- 
deed, have we cle\eloped one. A ijreat deal has been said and 
written on ihe subject since the si)rini;- of \^H7. but nuich of it 
was beside the mark and really little has been done to or<;an- 
hc our a,<,'ricultural resources in a lar^e way. Indeed, the mat- 
ter was one of threat dift'iculty because of the rapid draft of 
labor from the field. .\'otwith.standinp these difhcultie-, how- 
ever, the tanners ;uid other food producers of the countrv re- 
sponded nobly and produced results which, under the circum- 
stances, have been vcn,- remarkable. 

iii 



iv EUITOR's I'Ul 1 All. 

in the spring of 1017 the Secretary >>i ARricvilture. li'>n- 
orabte David V. Himston. ealled a conference of experts in 
the lield of agricultural jjruduction to meet at St. l-wui-. I 1\h 
conference outlined a pmsr.- ■ of advice and suKk'e-^tion- V> the 
fanners of the country which cc.tained nnicli wisdom and un- 
douhte.iiy did s'reat Koo<l. Xevertheler,s. it >iill remain^ tnu- 
that iiM national polity or national plan has hecn (le\ eloped up 
to the time of uritiiiK lor the ordernii; of our a','ricuUural pro- 
duction under the stress of war. 

Ihe Hcond ^reat division oi oiir activities in this field has 
been the conservation of f.iod under the able leadership of Mr. 
Herliert Hoover. Hih diviMon of the administrative control 
of the governinciii has undnuhtLdly brcii, in a large way, the 
most successful (;f our n-;ulatory efforts. At the same time 
it was tne mo>t ditTicult. Mr. Hoover's success has been due 11. >t 
onlv to his great organi/in- ability, uhich he slmucd earlier in >o 
ma'sterlv a way in r.el;;ium, but also to his clear comprehen- 
sion of' the character of his felL.w citizens. lU- has relied les^ 
on enactments and force than on appeal, and explanation-^. In 
other words, he has reli.'d on the fjood sen.-,e an.l patriotism ot 
the people. The pe.,ple of this republic never fail to respond 
to such an appeal, but it is only the rare ^'ovemment otbcer who 
so thnroughlv believes in the good sense of the people in a 
crisis that he is willii:,; to build his pl.aus confidently upon it. 
This clarity .d' vision an.l this faith Mr. Hoover has shown and 
thev constitute a si^ni of greatness. 

The attempts at price regulation of food producers can not be 
.aid. to have had any far-reaching result-^ on the situation. 
I'n.bablv thev h.ave preveiUe<l the occurrence of one or two 
.hort i.eriods'of acute price tUictuatii.n r,eyon<l th.it there is 
little, if anv. reason to U'lieve that they have had a large mllu- 
once' cither' in stimulating product!. ,.n or steadying the market. 
Certain it i^ that manv pnuhicers have gra<lually c.mplicd with 
the government's request to increase their acreage even at the 
risk of no pnilit, but un.ler the stimulus of j.atri.iti.sin. 

This cssav of Professor Hibbard's is an attempt to give the 
main facts of the history of the movement under discussion. 



EDITOR S PREIACE V 

'I hi- tn 11(1 ni events wil! probably make his essay of little tise for 
tin inirjiose of fornnilating a policy lor the purposes of th- war, 
siiK'f tin- war is so near its t-nd. Tiie expt-rifi, ■ ni the past 
two or tlirci- years, however, .is (lcstril>ed by liim, 'nay well 
teach us ,i lt--on tor liie future liis discussion should rai-e 
surh '|uestii)iis as the i)os-<il)ility of a national policy in agri- 
cultural production, especially in the more iniiHirtant foodstuffs. 
the possibility of a ])ermatient '.y.stiin of ai,'rinilturc, the better 
utilization of onr -,. ,il f, ,r sjjecific agricultural purposes, the im- 
proveinent of the condition of the fanner in the more backward 
agricultural areas, the provision of better o])iM)rtuiiities for them 
to borrow for purposes nf iiii|iroveiiieiri, ;ind many other ques- 
tions of equal im])ortance. 1 he editor U'lieves that Mr. Ilib- 
bard's discussion will be helpful in the discussion and solution 
of -iieh proMenis. 

D.Wlli KlNI.KY. 

l'iii\er-ily of Illinois, 
XovtihUt 1. l')18. 



^ 



1 



CONTENTS 



CHMTrR 

I 
11 

111 

IV 

\' 

VI 

VII 

VIII 



I 

II 

III 



CIIAKT 
I 

II 

III 

IV 

V 

VI 



I'akt 1 — The L'mtki) States 

PACE 

American Aijriculturc Ik-iorc tlie War .... 3 
Ltups. rrnductioii, Prices ami Exports for 1914 to 

191S 22 

Live Stock: Production, Prices and I'-.xports for 

W\4 to 1918 3.1 

I'ederal anil State .\id in Production and Marketing C)8 

Tile Federal Food .\dniinistration 100 

The Results of the Food Administration . . . . 150 

War Prices and the IntensitVof Cultivation . . 1?*^ 

The Effect of the War on \!:;ricultural Prosperity . 160 

I'akt II — Tin-: Umikd Kingdom 

Intniduction 167 

The Trend of England's I""ood Problem Before the 

War . , . ' 168 

Domestic Production and Trade in Agricultural 

Products .\fter the Outbreak (^f the War . . .174 
Activities of the Covcrnment in the Control of Con- 
sumption and Price of Food 192 

Index 227 

Charts 

Prices of Grain — United States 26 

Prices of Wool and Cotton — United States . . . 4,^ 

Prices of Meat -Animals — United States . . . 56 

1 Vices of Pituter, Eggs and Cheese — United States 61 

Prices of Wheat and P.ulk Flour — I'nited States . 125 

Prices of (irain — Great Britain 197 

vii 



vni 



CUNTE.NTs 



CHART 



VII Prices of Meat Animals — Great Britain . 03 

VIII Prices of Uiiitcr and Cheese — Great Britain . 215 

Statistical Tables 

T.\BLE 

I World ProdLiction and United Slates Produc- 
tion of Wlieat, P)09-l"14 7 

II .\creai,'e of tlie I'uurteen .\lu>t Iiiip' iftant Crop--, 

iyiU"-i'n4 11 

III Production of Important Crops, l'n0"l''14 11 

IV Live Stock un I'arms, 1910-1'.»14 .... 13 
V Exports of Grain and \'ei,'etal)le Products, 

]')l()-p)14 19 

VI E\piirt>(if Animals and Animal I'roiluct-;, I'MO- 

1014 21 

VII Wheat Acreage, l.y States, 10ir,-l<)lS . . . 2S 

\-in Crop Acreai:e<. 1'>15-1')1S .=^0 

IX Producti.m n\ Important Crops. 101 3-1918 . 51 
X Exports <,\ Grain and Wgetalile Products, 

1015-1''1S -"^l 

XI Xumher nt l">talili>hments and Total Xunihcr 

of AnimrC Inspected at Slaughter, 1007-1917 59 
XIT Prodnciiiti and Importatii'U of WucjI, 11)14- 

1'>17 ^'6 

XIII I.ivc Stock on E.-irnT^. 1915 -T^IS .... 66 
XI\' Exports of \ninials and Animal Products, 

1914 1918 67 

XV Ocean Ereipht Rate- Per lUi>he! of \Micat, Xew 

York to Liverpool '99 

XVI Index .N'ntnbers of Prices of Produce Sold Off 

Earms in En.sjland and W.ales 202 

X\"II Wholesale Prices of Commodities in k'.n.udand. 

Index Xumhers 203 

X\'III United Kin.L^dom. Acrea.u'c Cnder Crop> . . . _'l'' 

XIX Production of the I'nited KinLrdoni .... 220 

XX Live Stock of the United Kingdom .... 220 



1 



,1 

•1 



CONTICNTS IX 

T.MILK PACE 

XXI Numbers of Live Stock Returncrl at the Variuii^ 

-Markets, 1'J1_'-1">1() JJl 

XXII Quantity ui (irain Reported from England and 

Wales 22[ 

XXIII Imports of the United Kingdom — Grains and 

Vegetable i'roduets, Quantities .... 222 

XXIV Impi rts of the United Kingdom — Sugar and 

Cotton, Quantities 223 

XX\' Imports of the I'nited Kingdmu — drains and 

W'getable Products, Values 223 

XX\'I Imports of the United Kingdnni— W-gelables, 

Sugar, etc., Values 223 

X.WII Imports of the United Kingdom — Animal 

Products 224 

XX\'III Imports, L'nited Kingdom — Statenient Show- 
ing Estimated Reduction, etc 224 

XXIX Prices, England and Wales — .\verage .\nmial 

I'rice jier Im()erial < juarter of I'ritish Corn . 225 
XXX France, Germany and England Compared . . 223 



I 



PART I 
THE UNITED STATES 



EFFECTS OF THE WAR UPON 
AGRICULTURE 



CHAPTER I 
American Agriculture before the War 

I'Uillll I 1 liiN 

In iicnrlv all iiiiiinrtaiit ropt-ct,-- with rcijanl to fnod -tuffs 
AiiHTica !ia> Ijccii nut mil) >uli-taiitially scIi'-muVk'hii; but a cnun- 
ti\- oi' Miri)lu>. Tlii^ ha- liccn true t'or many years, lioth liclnrc 
and ihirniiT tln-- war. Inciilcntally \\c were dei)enilent uixm our 
neiL;hlior> h"- certani commercial fertilizers, and the ditViculties 
attendant upon ,i;ettin^f aloni; wiihoi.t them or gettinf,' ll'.ein else- 
where are vcrv Ljrcat. However, America ha- been and is a land 
of surplus food. While this is true beyond all controver.sy, it i- 
iust as true ;uid no doubt a good deal more astonishing to notice 
that the amount of the surplus has for -ome years been steadily 
on the decline. 

'I'he f>ccasion for this les-enuig surplus is not mysterious. Ot 
cour-e if all the land in ".-e were to be u-ed to it- luHe-t extent 
liy the entire population, that is, if the country produced the mini- 
mum amount of other goods and utilities, devoting itself exclu- 
>ivelv or mainlv to agriculture, there would be an enormous -ur- 
plus of food products. F',ut since the normal course is to produce 
that which society want- most rather than that tor which it will 
pav relativelv little, we have no cause for complaint on account of 
the I'.ailure to make the Land produce to its physical and biological 
maxinntm. b'arniers, both consciously and unconsciously, limit 
their efforts in accordance with economic returns, instead of in 
accordance with the limits set by the laws of physics and l)ioIogy. 

.1 



^1 



EFFECTS flK Illi; WAR IP'iX .\(,kl( I ' 1. 1 t K1-: 



AtiRiira lia> j;<iiic thrtnij^h, [iciliai-'s is still bi'ing thrutij;'i, a 
li'ii;; puriiKl 111 exploitation of natural rescjiirces, llif [)riinary ore 
oi which is the soil. In 1S6U there were 1.^ aire- m laim laud 
per capita of population; in l''i>() the iinuiber liail tallcn to 11. J 
acres; in 1910 to '-'.5 acre-. 1 lui- at the last census period there 
was but 7.^ per cent a- much farm land tor each ..leinher of society 
as there h.id been liliy \ear.-, belore. 

.\i;r i> the decrea-e oi the uuiuber ot acre-- \n-v capita the only 
way in which the land ba-i> of the food >uiipl\' has lessened. 
The (juality of the acres taken into the farm list greatly deterior- 
ate<l with the inclu>iun of the western j)art of the great ])lain> 
and mountain country, 'rhi- i- true in v|iitc of the unu-ual pro- 
ducti\i' power of the irrigated land, since irrigated land is .-mall 
in extent a- compared with tiie grazing land of the plain-. 

.\s price- of food-tutY- ri-e, cultivation uil'. when the labor 
supply permits, be extended to land not economically available 
at lower ()rices. In -Mine in-t,ancc- the land Iirought Liter itito 
use may be among tlu' bc-t. Thi- i- illn-trated in the cut ovjr 
cotmtry of the (ireat L.akc- fove-t region, the niar-h land of 
many State-. ,ind lo -ome extent in the cut-over land- ot the 
South. I'.ut when all i- said and dotie. it mu-t be admitted that 
about .all ihc gooil, ea-il\' mailable latid of the cor.ntry h.as been 
m.ade ititM f.irm-, .and therefore that increa-cd produce mu-t. in 
the main, come fr. iin more inten-i\e lUvlhod-. l'o[uilation i- 
growing f,a~tei' than acre- can be subdued and added to the lariu 
land-. We -h.all ha\e fewer, not more, acres per capita. 

.\noihi. • \iew of the same facts tnay lie taken. In ISSi) the 
population iif the countr\- \v;i- 7".^ per cent rur.al. In I'MtJ it 
was ?<^.7 jicr cent rural. Thu- the pro]ioriiMn nf producers to 
caters has been undergoing a rapid change, .\ctually on tarnis 
the [iri .pi irtion i- b\- no mean- .^.^ 7 [ler ct'iit, -ince in thi- cla--itica- 
tion there were included in rural population all \illage- and town- 
of less than 2,,^r)f) inhabitants. "I'lie farm population therefore 
was in I'MO. ,i< nearlv as can well be e-tiniated, about oue-tiiird 
of the entire pojiulation of the country. This is a rajiidly de- 
creasing proportion. \ct it is still in marked contrast to the very 



THE rNITKD STATES 3 

small prcixirtiiin of ilif |iM[]iil;iti()ii of l'n,L;l.iiiil anil Wale- fii- 
Haj^cl 111 agnculturc. ulurc lluia.- arc Imt S jicr Cfiit m) luiinricd. 
(Ml tlif ciIkt hand it coincick-s nular tlusdy with the German 
Mliiatiuii where JO.OOO.OCKJ people out of 70,W0,UUU arc getting 
their li\int; li\, or immediately nut nt, agriculture. 

'I'll,- f., -,1111111; C'/i'/'v (i;/i/ 'I'luir liH[-,>rl,iih,- 

'Hie inipiirtance ul the Amencan i'imkI supply tn the Allien can 
liardlv lie ()\ erempha>i/eil. Thw w■a^ true hetore the L'llited 
Slates entered the war, and has lieen >o to an increaMiig degree 
since that time. The fdnd (|uesli(iii centered in a few articles, 
mainly wheat, meat, fat- and sugar, hdr the must part the other 
necessarv foods cmild he p*"oduced near at hand; iiian\ of tlutii 
would not stand transportation hecause of their perish,ilile nature; 
others are not vahiahle enoU',;h to u;irr;mt traii-i)ortation. It is 
therefore in point to notice the position of the I'nited .States as a 
food producing country in relation to. and in coinjtarison with, 
the other .Allies. Russia nce<l imt he t,ikcn into account sirje she 
ceased to he a factor in the war ahout the time the I'nited States 
entered The lack of hottoms for use in carrying pjraiii has made 
it well mi,di out of the (|uesti(m to piit the supplies of Argentina. 
.Au^triiha. i.r liidi.'i at the disposal of the helligercnt nations. 
Thus the prohKni has resol\-ed itself into the matter of getting 
from the I'mled ."^tatcs and Canada the nece-sary supplv of food 
for < heat iiritain, h'r.ancc and Italy. 

Looking upon the .\llies as a group it i-; olu ions that the I iiMcil 
States and Canada are the countries which arc ahle to prcn'ide the 
a>liIitional food which i> ncided in we-tern lTiro[ic. The lead- 
ing crops such as the cereals, potatoes and sugar reduced to calo- 
ries as a common denominator, are produced hy the countries 
involved in widely dilYcriiig pmomiis. In millions of calories the 
per capita iiroduction is as follows: ' 

Cnnn.l.i ''< 'O 

I'niterl States ■< J)-' 

France 17'' 

Italy 1011 

United Kiiii;ili)in 56 

I Finch and Baker: Gco^rarhy of World's .tgriciilturi-, p, 8. 



EFFECTS nl- Till. W \l; I f'<\ Ai .KKTI.TI'UK 



The total food \nlm'« (jnnluccd in ilic ilil'lVri'iit loiiiitiii'^ arc iii'i 
ill the proportions rl•I)r^■■^(.•nll■ll by tln.sc lij,'iircs since there are 
main veyctalile foods not here iiuhided, .Xj^'ain the ^''-'''l e-^*-"css 
above nee<ls (a million calories represent the fuel value ol ten 
bushels of wheat I pr"iliiccd in the I'liilcd State- and C aiiada does 
not apjiear in the hinii nf hiiniaii food. .\ j^ieat ]iart mi the ce- 
reals Is fed to h\c stot'k, and in the meat and dair\ piipdiuts 
resultiii,;; the fooil \alues are Kre.iil) reduced ll.n\c\er, tor 
Comparative piirposcN the t'lijures >er\e iaiil> well since al! the 
nations iii\oKed e.it food of sniiilar \anet\-. do the e\ieiit that 
tliev eat more hiead and \ei;etaliles an<l less meat the comparis.iii 
fails to f,nve a true picture. At all events it is clear that the 
Initid States and ( aiiada are countries of almndance of food, 
while the three .\llied countries of luirope are de[)endenl on the 
outside world. The situation with respect to the supply ol foods 
o\er uliiih there is s^reat concern on account of sli()riaj.;e in (ireat 
Britain, I'rance and Italy, namely wheat, meat and su^'ar. wil! he 
sketched sep.irately. ( )ther ^r;lms such as corn and oats enter 
into the i)r.)Meni in an iinportaiii way since threat (|uaiitities nf 
them are needed in I'.urope, yet furni-hintj these grains is only a 
matter of transportation, since they are ahundant. 1 hey arc not 
incrah" ulaiit as the hi.L;h prices indicate, yet withdrawin,!.: from 
America the quantities needed in luirope would not act as a great 
disturhing inlhience in the market here. 

W'hi-iit. In imrmal times Creat r.ritain. France and Italv im- 
port aliotit .^ 1 \0i II i.OOi > bushels of wheat. This supply ci.mcs 
largelv, hut b\' no means exclusively, from the I'nitcd States .and 
Canada. I 'nder the conditions existing since the bcLMuning of 
the w.ir in l'*14 the "-upijlx- has come more .-'iid more fr.^m llie-e 
two sources. Ordinarily the United St.ates ;ind (anad.i furnish 
for export about two-thirds as much wheat as the three luiropean 
Allies import. I'nder war conditions the production of wheat by 
the Allies has been greatly reduced, notw ilhstamling the slight 
increase in Great Britain. On account of had weather the supjdv 
of American wheat has been hardly above the amount required at 
home for nor-nal consumption during the two years l'Mf)and I'M 7. 



Tin; LMTEU STATES 7 

'I'lic position of the rnitcd States as a wlu-at ])nMliicing nation 
111 coiniiariMiii with tlic world mitput of wlicat is ot intercut 
I'noi In tlu' w ar, llu- wi ii lii [)roiliiuU(iii i.ii w Iumi \kt vcar a\ craj^i-il 
about ihrcc and a iiali billion l)n-.lii.-l> TahK' 1 ^ivc> wntid pro- 
duction, with liiat ol tliL L'nitfd Stau>, irotu VMJ to 1914.' 

TADl.i; 1 

World Production and L'Mtbi) Siatks rKKULiTH'.v uk \\iiK\r. 1V(IV-1914 

Wurlil rriitluctiuii, U. S. I'roductiuii. 
liiishols I'ushi'ls 

I'Tfl . 3.58J.O(M).0()() dH.idOd.iKK) 

1''10 . ,V575.IK)0,(MHI O.i.i.OIKl.lXH) 

I'Ml J.5?2.(HK),(XK) fiJl.lHJOIXK) 

1''!-' .?.7''-MH)ll,iKI0 ;,i().IKKMXX) 

l''l' 4.!J7.lli")i»H» "(M.IHKMKIO 

l''l-l ).586.lH)(i!»(l(l X'V1,(KX).I»0() 

'I'lio rnitcd States wheat crop of 1')14 \va> the heaviest ever 
known and constituted almost one fourth of the world's ».rop. 
I'ollowin^' a> it did rather lica\ y crops f. ir the two \ears preccd- 
inf,'. the amount of wheat on h.iiid at the outlireak ni the war was 
hy far <;reater than normal. 

Ccni. The lar_i,'est item of the food supp'y of the L'niled 
Slates i- viewed from one staiulpoint. corn. So far as food 
.'ictually eaten is concerned, corn does not occupy a very import- 
ant place. It is from the standpoint of intermediary use that it 
IiMims so liig. Corn is tlie basis of pork production and a prime 
factor in the fecdiii;^' of other live stock. Tiie .in. -n produced 
per capita increa-;?d rajiidly till about 1879, reaching; 35 bushels 
at that time. L'ntil IS' in tht' per capita production was substan- 
tially unchanged, but since 1899 it has declined appreciably. In 
1909 it hail fallen to 27.7 bushels, and remained at a point not far 
different froin that for sc\er,'il years. The real siuniticance if 
the corn crop is that it is llie hmitins; facto'- in the production 
of meat, particdarly of hif;hly tinished beef and pork such as the 
.\merican market has for years demanded. 

i'roni the standpoint of world production the United States 
occupies the predominatin.u position with respect to corn, produc- 
lUi; from two-thirds to three-fou'ihs of the world sitpply. In 

' Vcarl'ODk. DciKirtiiiort (.f \cri.-nlt'.ire. 1'51". 



8 



EFFECT^ KF MIL WAK LTU.N \(,KIl r I. M ' Ki: 



l')14 tlie Wiirld productinn was. accordinj; to tlie niiorts, 3,8/8,- 
lK)0,itOO I)U-1k'1-. ol wliuli ilic L lilted Stati-s prodiKcd J.673.000 
biishfK ..r (." per cent.' I'or aereaj^e and >ield lor 1"U) tu l'»U 
5ec Table-. 11 and 111 helow. 

Oalj. The prodiutimi of oats in the linted States, in terms 
of Imshcls ranks next to corn In \aliK- nat^ rank lu.niially 
below wheat The acreaj^'e of oats has nure.ised more, relatively, 
diiriiif; the past forty years than have the acreages of either corn 
or wheat. The per capita produaimi. theref..re. -hows a corre- 
spondinjily greater increa-e over a con-ideraMe period of years 
than i.. the ca^e with the other cereal- mentioned. Init re.iched 
its maNinnim in 188'». l-"» Imshels. The decline -nice that time 
has. however, been v. . little In I'M 4 the per capita prodnc- 
tion was over 12 hii-lieK. 

In th'' world's supply of oats the United Slates ranks first, 
producing o\ er one-fourth. In 1''14 the worhl crop was 
4,035,lXX).<it>0 bushels, of which the Inited States produced 
l,14..(XX>.00u Ini-hels. or 28 per cent- The importance of the 
oat cnp is largely indirect so far as food is concerned since no 
considerable part is eaten. However, as a war commodity oats 
play an important role as feed for horses. The Allied countries 
are deficit areas with respect to oats and while the United States 
and Canada can furnish oats in large quantities if called upon 
for them, under normal conditions they are consumed at home. 
Otiur Cereals"' Xcne nf the other ccre.ils e iter greatlv. either 
directly or indirectlv, into the food supply of the United States. 
As a barlev producing nation the L'nited States ranks second only 
to Russia, hut e\en so the production in this country is normally 
under 200.000.000 bushels per year, or onlv about a quarter that 
of wheat, and not a tenth that of corn I'arley does not enter 
greatly into the food of the people of the United States nor of 
the European .Mlies. 

1 Ycarhprik. Derartiiicnt of .^pnctlltllre. lOlfi The uconraphv of^ the 
V.'orUi's AgrxcuUurc estiir.ates the proportion produced hy the I'mtefi States 
at 71 Tier ctiit , . , . 

- Vrarf-.^ok, Dcpartniert of .-\ericnlt\ire. lOlf^. For tlie acrcape aiul yield 
from 19U1 tn 1Q14 !^ee TaMes !I : nd IIT bcl-w 

'For acreage and yield ?fe Tablet 11 and III below. 



TUK rMlI-.lJ >l ATKS V 

Rye is tiiiilDiilitedlv the most >ati>l.ut(tr_v bread grain Ix^siiies 
wheal. !)tit i^ ikjI j^mwii extensively in the United States. Had 
all the r\e raided in the I'nited States in l'^14 been ni.ide int(» 
tiour It would not have amounted to more tiian about eight [lounds 
per capita. 

Buckwheat, usually classed a.s a cereal, is of still le.ss importance 
than rye, the total product amounting to but about one-sixtli of a 
bushel per capita. Kice is useil in greater (|u;ituity than it is pro- 
duced within the roimtry, a considerable amount beinj; imported. 

Other I'ooil Crops. One ot the most important i 'od crops 
other than the cereals is the pot.itci. Tlie normal potato crop of 
the country ranges from 3iK\r)(>),000 to 4(X),(XX).CX)() bushels, it 
being a crop which var.es w iclely according to weather conditions. 
To this may be addcu the sweet potato crop of <')().0<X}.U(>J to 
"."'.•XXt.OOO bushels. Thus there are produced from three to four 
liushels of Irish potatoes, and somewhat Ies~, than threc-ionrtbs 
of a bushel of sweet potatoes j)er capita. Potatoes normally 
enter but little into international trade 

Compared with that )f other countries the potato crnp of the 
United States is not large. The world crop is over 3,naX(3(10.n(X) 
bushels, of wliic' the United .States produce . but alH)Ut 7 per cent. 
This is less than the ai'imint ; rodiued in Irance, and not greatly 
more than the amount fjroiliKcd in the United Kingdom, i'nnii 
the standpoint of the World War the potatoes produced by the 
.\llies are important, but it is in Germany that potatoes are of 
jiriMiary consc<|uence Germany produces 30 per cent of the 
world crop ' 

Sugar. Xo doubt the most important crop other than the ce- 
reals is sugar. The United States, including island possessions, 
produces from two to two and a half million tons, or four to 
fi\e billion pounds, annually. This is about half of the amount 
consumed, the additional amount coming mainly from Cuba. 
The other great importing country is the United Kingdom, which 
takes one-fourth of the total world e.xports. France and Italy, 
during normal times, taken together, produce a little more sugar 



1 Fltirh ami n,-iker : Ceoiiriifhy of Ihe Tl'orld's AqriniUiirc p fi8 



10 



EFKliCTs OF IHE WAR Ll'O.N ACKlCLl.ir KK 



than is needed lor lioine consumption. \\ liile the L'nitod States 
under normal eircuni.-iance^ is not greatly concei ned either as a 
i)n\er Irian i ir >eller of suyar to tiie Allie-, 'lie -situation is nnw 
chaiif^ed, and with liie luiropean ^upi)ly nianily cut ott the Alhes 
an- oliliij;e(l tu i^et llieir suj^ar in larijje part from Cuba, wliirh is 
al-(i the >ouree ct the Anievii-an importations. In thi~ nmnd- 
aljoin riiaimer the snjiply of suj:ar f. ir .\merican nse is seriously 
reduced . 

W'lnle nearly half the sircar u<ed in the fnited States comes 
from foreign countries, mainly Cuba, another fourth comes from 
i'^land possessions. lea\-ing approximately a fourth to he produced 
in the continental L'nited States. Somewhat more than half of 
the hiinie grown sugar is from beets. In l')l,VI4 the beet »ugar 
pro<Iuction was 733.000 tons, cane sugar vvithin the l'nited States 
300.00 tons, cane sugar from island possessions 1.1'>*"I.OOO tons.' 
The pmduction uf beet ^ugar was begun in earnest about 1890. 
In l''i"') the beet sugar production exceeded the c-e sugar pro- 
fluction. and has done so ever since, ( See Tables il and 111. i 

Cotton. The cotton crop is sometimes -econd .nnd -omeiimes 
third in value of all crops, it being exceeded uniformly by corn 
and part oi the time b\- hay. 

Cotton Is the iii'-t mi]ion,aiit commercial crop of the country, 
outranking corn in this re-pect because of the fact that substan- 
tially all cotton is sold as such by the iiroducer. while corn has 
manv uses and is turned into other prodncts without leavm.n the 
farm. 

rhree-tlfths of the wot d's supply of cott^.'n is grown in the 
I'tiited States. The yield ranges from 10,000,000 to 1C).01K' OttO 
bales per vcar varying greatly witl; weather conditions i or 
exampk-, the average yield for the l'nited States in 1910 was 
170 7 pounds peracre, while in l''l 1 it was _'07 7 p niiids. More- 
over there were 4.0(X).000 acres more in 1"11 than it; I'MO. 
Thus the yield which hv. 1 been 11 r,09,(X)0 b.iles in 191U rose to 
16.000.000 bales in 1^1 1. 'Ihe latter crop, however, broui;ht the 
growers S6,000,000 k-s than the snuiller crop of the year before. 

> Yi-arl'ook, Dcp.irtniciit of .Virriciiltnre. \^\(i. 



lllE LMIKU STATES 11 

T.\i;i.i: 11 

AtRKAt.t 'IF TIIK FoiRThhN Ml'M' I M IHIR TANT CRnr>, lV10-I'n4 

1910 I'^U IVl- l-'li l'*!-* 

f, ri> l04().i5iKX1 105.8.'5,IKH) U)7,0fl.i,0(K) 105,8JlUKK) 10,i,4J5.lH)0 

Ulu-.t -|i'<,«l,l)iX) 4'),.S4,i.t«J<J 45,814,110(1 5(),184,U(K) 5i,54HK»i) 

, ' m'oI^IKXJ 48,J40.1RK) 49,5.i(),UN) 4«,V54,()0(i 4y,145,U<IO 

(,;,,-, (7'i4x;(XKI .^7,76.i.UOO .57.9i;,(KR) .!>S.JS)y,U(»U J8,442,U(K) 

Tr, tnii i-MlU llUd J(),()45.0(XJ 34,J8.5,UOO 37,08'),0IHJ oO,832,U(MJ 

n^'" 7 7A.Um 7,OJ7,U(»<) 7.SM).m) 7,4W,U)0 7,5o5,0(J() 

Potatoes ,!'7-'l»(10() 3/)19,(X)0 3,711.0O(J XbbX.iMY) 3,711,0(X) 

.,';^ '4(,7 0(K) .'757,()(KJ J,8.M,(M)0 2J9\.im 1.045,()CIO 

u.. '''iS^OOO _',li7,00() 2,117.tK)0 2.557.m) 2,541,W)() 

Tol.acco"7 ' ?,'3«.,(K;J 1,U13,(KK) 1,.'.'6,(HJ0 l,216,l»00 1,2.'4,U<H) 

Buckwheat .. . 8WXW) 833,(KK) 841,(K)0 805,000 792.000 

Hcaiis ... 803,000 ■ . . 

K„c 723,000 696,(KR) 72.1IK10 827.000 694.000 

S„L.ar"l'.cet^ . 398.000 473.877 555.3(X! 580.(X)0 4«3,(KX) 

Sugar Cane'.. Not reported 310.OOO 197.000 248.000 213.i)0(> 

Toial 290^7^ 296,871,877 294,378,300 300,137,000 300,263,000 

1 I-'or Louisiana. 

T.M'.I.K III 
PRoni'CTTox OF Important Crocs, 1910-1014 

1910 I'lll 1 12 1913 1914 

'hnli^Ls .. 2.886.200 000 2,5,il.488.<H>0 3,124;74<).000 2.240,9,88.000 2.672.804.000 
Wheat — 

hnshels .. 635.121.000 621.338.000 730.267.00o 763.380.000 SOl.oiJ.OOO 

Oats — 
hushels .. 1.186.341.000 922.298.000 1.418.3.17.000 1.121.768,000 1.141,0)0.000 

"ushels .. 173.832.000 160.240,0(X> 223.824.000 I78.1,W,000 194,953.000 
Rvc- 

hushels .. 34.897.000 33.119,000 35.664.000 41..WI.OO0 42.779.00() 
Potatoes — 

hnshels . 349 032 OTiO 292.737.000 420,647.000 331.525.000 40').921.(X)0 
Fl.ix — 

Inishels . . 12.718,000 19.370,000 28.073,000 17.853.000 13.749.lX)0 
Toliaceo — 

pounds ..1,103.415,000 905.109.000 9o2.S55.000 953.714.000 1. .104 .6/1.000 
Cotton — 

hales 11.60'), (KH1 15,69,1,000 13,70 v0(VI l4.l56,OfK1 16.115000 

Hay — tons f.9.378.000 54,610,000 72,(.iil.OOO o4. 116.000 70,07l.O(K1 
Buekwlicat — 

hnshcls .. 17.5')8.000 17.549,0(K) 19,249,000 13,833,0(K) 10.881,000 
Hrans — 

hushels .. 11.251,001) . ,, 

Rice — 

hushels .. 24.510 ("lO 22.''34.000 25.054.000 25.744,0(K) 23.649,000 
Beet .Sugar — 

short tons, 510.172 5')9,500 692.556 733,401 722,054 
Cane Sugar — 

sliort tons. 347.0(X) 361.000 163,000 301.000 247.0(XI 



12 



EFFECTS OF THE WAR LI'ON ACRICULTURE 



While there is a. most without fail a reduction in the cotton 
acreage following an unusually heavy yield with its attendant 
lower price it so happened tliat lor the two years preccduig the 
war thf acreage and yield were both above normal, w ith the re>ult 
that an unprecedented supplv of cotton was on hand when hostili- 
ties began ni Europe in 1914. The crop of 1914 may be con- 
sidered as then on hand, although not harvested for a few months 
after the war started.' An idea of the growth of the cotton in- 
tlustrv inav be had from die fact that the acreage increased from 
'3,a)(),Oo6 in 1880 to SZ.OOO.OW m 1013. And the importance 
of the supplv on hand in 1914 mav be gathered from the J'-i-res 
.h,)wing an average yield from 1906 to 1909 of 11,000,000 bales 
per year, wlide from 1910 to 1914 this average was 14,0O< iKK) 
bales. (Tables Hand III.) 

.tniinals and .hu»hd /'rodiicts 
It is hardlv feasible to treat of farm animals as an entire group 
even in the most general way. This is true because of the wide 
.lifference in value and importance among sheep, h.^gs, horses and 
cattle. The difference in the rate of increase in nunil>ers is also 
fundamental; likewise tlie rlifTerences in the uses to which they 
are put. Thev will, therefore, l)e considered sejKirately. 

Horses and' Mules. Smce horses and mules are kept almost 
exclusively for the work they do, the numbers correspond very 
cIo<elv to'the acreage cropped. According to the federal census 
report of 1910 the number of horses and mules had increased 
during the preceding ten years by about 14 or 13 per cent, or 
almost in the same percentage as the increase in improved land, 
l-or some vears preceding 1910 the number of horses and mules 
had increa'.ed siMuewhat faster than the improved acreage. In 
1880 there were 23.7 acres per work animal: " in 1900, 23 acres, 
and in 1910 there was one work animal to each 20 acres. The 
numbers of these animals continued to increase so that in all 

1 Yearbook. Dep.irtment of .ARricnlturc, I>)Ki , . „, „^ 

= Tl-.e animals included in the calculation arc horses, mules an., asses, ex- 
cluding spring cults. 



THE UNITED STATES 



13 



l)n)l)al)ility they were fully as numerous in proportion to improveil 
land in tarr.is ui l'J14 as they had been in 1910. The importance 



of an abundance of animal power is ap[)areiit in view of the les- 
sened man power due to the war, thus making it desirable for 
one man to use as much macliincry as possible. There was no 
shortage of horses and mules in 1914. On the contrary we were 
in n position to e.\port as many as were likely to be wanted. 

TABL1£ IV 
LivK Stock on Farms, 1910-1914 

1910' 1911 191.' 1913 1914 

Horses 19,8J.!,1 13 20,277,0(30 ZO.SOiJ.OOO 20,567,000 20,902,000 

.Mules 4,209,769 4,323.000 4,362.000 4,.J86,0(K) 4,449.000 

.Mildi Cows 20.645,432 20,823.00(J 20,699,000 20,497,000 20,737,000 

Other Cattle 41,178,434 39,679.000 37,260.000 36,0.«),000 35,855.000 

.Sheep 52.447,861 .53,633.000 52,3()2.0t)O 51.482,IKX) 49,719.000 

Swine 58,185,676 65,620,000 65,410,000 61,178,000 58,933,000 

' Census tignres. 

Lattlr. I he cattle question resolves itself into two parts, :■("., 
that of the beef supply, and that of the dairy. Ht)wever, this 
distinction can not be made .sharply since all cattle enter into the 
beef supply, and many cows not classed as dairy cow's neverthe- 
less contribute somewhat to the supply of dairy products. 

The number of cattle per 100 of population has declined very 
much during the past quarter century. In 1890 there were 90.6 
head per 100 of population. In l'>10 on a basis of enumeration 
inchiding a larj^er number of youn<:; stock there were but ."^H." 
head per 100 of population, or less than two-thirds as many rela- 
tivclv. The discrepancy would be offset in part by the -greater 
size of many of the cattle at the latter date. I5y 1914 the num- 
ber of cattle was not over .^6..=^ per li"H) of population.' 

Kspecial interest centers in the dairy. In 1880 there was one 
milch cow to everv four pe0|.le: in 1890 one to 3.8 people; in 
1900 one to every 4 7 people: in 1910 and also in 1911 one to 
every 5 people. That is to s.ay, each cow in 1914 supplied dairy 
products to one additi'mal person as compared with the situation 

' Yvr-'hook. Department of Auriciilture, 1916. It is assiitned that the popu- 
lation at that time was 100,000,000. 



14 



F.ri IICTS IU-' 



Till-: UAk ri'iiN Ai.KU ii.iritK 



in 1S80. This does net mean that tlic Mipply was iiccu-anl\ 
shorter in the laUer >ear than m the mnner. I lie iiurease.l 
],r,Hl;K-tion per cow during that period .'i time might and perhaps 
shniild ha\e been able to take care of the additional i;.;i:=on. d he 
statistics of dairy products are not sutticieiitly accurate to slunv 
with any exactness the facts of this e-iiniate. lIowe\er, as 
shown below, the exports of dairy pruducls would suggest 
stroiii;ly that we have, during the p.i-i ten _\e.ir>, been producing 
a gradually decreasing surplus ol dairy pri-Jtlucis. t See lal.ile 

Hogs. The number of hogs in the country is usually about the 
same as the numlier ui cattle. In 1>S8U the number of hugs was 
50,UOO,U(A> which was equal to ''>') for every KX) of pupulation, 
or aliiiust one hog per person. During the next thirty years the 
number of hogs lailed to increase as fa>t .'is p ipulation increased, 
uinil in I'JIO, the number reported, 5<S,1,S( equalled abinit 03 

l)er lUU of population. The number of hi .n l'»14, 58,y'J3,UUU, 
was hardly above that of I'MO indicating a further reduction in 
proportion t<3 population to about 59 per 1(X) people. Tnns there 
were at the beginning of the war about 60 per cent as many hogs 
in proportion to population as there had been in IS.SO. There 
were, however, hogs enough to furnidi great (luantities of pork 
for export, the home consum.;ilion being no doubt distinctly lim- 
ited by tile price. ( See Table \"1. ) 

Slii'cf^. The I'nitcd States can hardly be called a great sheep 
producing country, and in proportion to population and improved 
l.'ind has become less so during the jiast thirty or fortv years. 
Among tile nations of the world the United States ranks fourth, in 
number of sheep, Australia holding first p'ace. Rnssin second, 
and Argentin.n third. These three cor.ntries have, toi^etlier, 
nearlv five times ns many sheep as are ]<.v\n in the I'niteil States. 
Until some thirty years ago. sheep were kept in this country pri- 
marily for wool. Since Mini time, the importance of mutton has 
increased relatively as compared with wool and as a result the 
great maioritv of the sheep are of the nintton iirceils.' 

'Finch .iiul P..ikcr: Ccnaraf-'iy ••! I''-' U'nrhVs ,tQrin,llun\ p. l.V). 



riiE ixniii) >iAn;s 



15 



In ISSO tluTc were in the eoiiiitry .'S.l'JJ.OOO sheep or 70 tur 
each It") (JL-Mple. In l'H)U the nuiiilier ni slieep \\a> ()1.504,(K>0 
iir <Sl per 100 people. The liiuhe>t nuiiiher wa.-, reached in i'>U.5, 
^),V'»()?,(K)0, after whi.'h there was a steady decline. In l'M4 
there were 4".71'»,00O or 48 per \W people. l-"roni the -tand- 
|)()int of meat production sheep have never occupied a very im- 
portant place in the United States. 

Wool. Closely associated with the sheep industry i-. that of 
wool. The United Stales has been for many years, if not always, 
a delicit area with respect to wool. The u.^nal importation- have 
been heavy, two to three hundred imlhon pounds annually, hor 
the year 1913 the amount of wool available for home use was 
540,500,000 pof.nds, about 55 \.cv cent of which was home 

grown.' 

Conditions were not favorable lor the encouragement of the 
sheep and wool industry for some years prior to the war. Wool 
could be bought nt reasonable prices from other countries, even 
.-liter paving the tarilT. The western ranges were producing 
fewer sheep from vear to year f)wing to the inroads made by 
b.>mcsteader>^. The prices of ivool and mutton were not suf- 
tlrieiitlv high to coax manv farmers anew into the <heep business. 
Thus at the beginning of the war, the United States was not only 
in no shape to provide an added amount of wool for the Allies, 
which thev wanted, but was unable to furnish her own people 
with much more than half of the customary supply. The result 
was a greatlv increased demand on the part of the United States 
for the Wdol from other countries, a demand which tb.ey were, 
fortunati. . able to supply. Tlie demand on these countries by 
America was augmented l)y a similar demand from the .\llies. 

'I'lh- .S7(('!'/' niisiiirss iitul f'olifii.-s. The sheep busuie-^s lia^ usu- 
aliv been in a precarious condition owing to the defiendcnce of 
wool {irices on a protective tariff. The men who plead for a pro- 
tective tariff on wool do so in the name of patrioti'-m. In time 
of pe;ice it is founded on an interest in the laborer; in time of war. 



' t'tiiled .States Department of .Vfiricnlture. OtTic 
No. 93. 



<i t'nc Secretary, Circiila 



16 



EKFKCrS 111- Till-: WAK LTUN ACRICULTLKl-: 



it i. a matter of fundamental prq.arednov' The Simnions- 
L-n.leruo.wl Tariff of 1913 reduced the lardY on wool an<l created 
u.k-uicad uure^t in the >heei) and wool indu.'.y. So far as 
mu-u)n wa. coiR-erned .t followed the course ot general meat 
prices nui therefore Miffer.d no dechne. Wool prue., h .ever 
suffered a distinct dechne, falhng, for different grades, 3 to 13 
cent> i pound ^ At the -ame time, importations were unusually 
heavv' although no heavier than during several years hetwcen 
Vm an.l l')10. Those i.iterested in the wool busmess were not 
.l.w to n,ake as nuK'h political capital out of the sUuat.on as the 
case would allow. Every prophecy of the P'"^-^-"''! f l]^; 
was in pr..cess of fulfihnent when the war came.' The same 
,,;,h,,ruv goes on to recommen.l the enactment of protectumtst 
; "!,slat>on whde the war is on. m order that men overseas ,t>ay 
k,^nv that thev will have work at hon,e when jhe war ,s <ner 

The numhe; of sheep in the country had dechned untd m l')14 
the lowest number, with a single exception, i.t fourteen years was 
reached This decrease in numbers is ot course attributed In the 
.li'.ciples of protect,on entirely to the lowering of the tantt^ 
Secretary David F Ibaston has a different ver -on ot the case, 
tie says: 

1). ,1,P fniu-a States imports from alnnit two-f,ftlis to more than 

cio,mie(ii> 15 .jii .itta nc prolitaMy on hi^n 

growers has been to produce wool. This can not he .auann ,,,„e is 

pnce,i land. Natnr,.lly. therefore, with the increase ,n land ^,du,s, there 

1 For example, see Rullet.n of the X .rion.al .\ssociat,on of Wool Manufac- 
turers, 1918. No. 1. 

'Ihid.. p. 13. 

' Ibid., p 96. . , ,n,, )n 

* Yearbook. Pepartment of Nericnlture. l<'lf>. p M>. 



riir. rNiiKU siatks 



17 



.1 rapid decline in tlie nMmhcr of slicep. In (ireat Britain meat las been the 
linnciiial [iruciuct and wool the by-prudiict, and the sheep in hislry has flour- 
ished. 

S]n'akinR of the relation of tariff to the sheep industry, the 
( haiuber ot Coniiiieree of the United States says: 

As with most of our economic prtihleins, sheep and wool were for years 
quite active in politics, and a low taritl on wool or the absence of any tariff 
at all was cited as one of the reasons for the lessening nnmher of sheep ir 
this country. This statement, however, does not stand the test of intelligent 
investigation and analysis; sheep have decreased and increased with equal 
impartiality iiiuler both low and high tariffs on wool. The compelling and 
universal cause in all countries, which has affected the number of cattle as 
well as of sheep, seems to be the growing demand for grazing lands and 
rani;es for agricultural purposes.' 

At all e\eiits the question o{ wool became acute soon after the 
war be^'an and with our entrance into the war. it became evident 
at once that wool w.is a commodity of \ ery f^reat military import- 
ance, and that with respect to it, the I'nited States was in no sense 
prepared. On the other hand, the hi,i,di specific value of wool and 
the small number of pounds needed per capita meant that it could 
be brouj^ht from other countries, even though distant, much bet- 
ter than many other commodities, such, for example, as wheat. 

KxrORT.M'IOX 

Experts of Gram 

Wheat. Ever since the rapid spread of the .American popula- 
tion into the upper Mississippi X'alley, we have been a jj^reat ex- 
porting nation. The expansion of the wheat acreage and yield 
from the close of the Civil War to 1892 was approximatelv one 
hundred per cent. At the same time the exports increased from 
one to three hundred per cent. The export.s of 1891 and 1892 
were greater than the entire product of 1867 and 1868. In 1891 
following an unusually heavy crop, the exportation was for the 
first time over 200,000 bushels. For twelve years following that 
date the amount exported remained at a high level, going up and 

* Chamber of Commerce of the United States. The Sherp and H'ooi Indus- 
try. .'\pril 26, 1018. 



18 UKiM-crs 01-- Tin: wak vvns AGRirui.iuui: 

.lown wuh the ,nnou,n produced. Unri.ig thai period ll.o pcr- 
coiuayc ui the touil .n.p exported ^^a^ also \v^h. twice exeeedmg 
f„rtv per cent, and hut utue goinj; l.elow thuty per ce.U l.y 
VMS the tule hegan to t.irn. l-.xpnri. Nvere lower than betore 
both ab>olutelv an.l relat.vely. W herea.., n> earlier years a crop 
of over 300,000,000 bushel, injured a heavy export, ii^u a 
600OO0.aH). or even 700,000.000 bu>hel crop ,s for the mo^t part 
used at home ^.et^^een 190.' and tlie opening ot the war the 
HKiximuni amount nf wheat exported mily twice exceeded the 
„„„,„u,m amount ot the twenty year, prece.img. 1. ^^^^^^'-^^^'^^ 
of crop prodticed the max.mnn, of export, '--.^^f ?!;;/ '^^ ; ^''.^ 
,n no instance equal to the imn.nmm ot the penod IS »1 to 1 O- 
We were clear! v .>n the down grade as a wheat exporting nation, 
h happened, however, that circumstances conspired t<i increase 
exportati, - right at the beginning of the war. This will be no- 
ticed in the next ch.apter. . 

Other Gnim. We had never been heavv exporter^ o. llie 
coarse -rains, though from 1S')5 to l-'OO important quantities ot 
oats' a.rd corn were sold abroad. bVom l-)00 to the beginning 
of ihe war such exportations weP. decidedly sma'l, amounting to 
but one, two, tliree <,r live per cent of the amounts grown. I-ike- 
wise the expnrtations nf barley were of small conseq .ence, te.ah- 
ing but a' few million bushel- per year. Exports ot rye were 
never important. 

Exports of Cnlton 
For manv v.ars prior t,. VnA .about iwo-ihird. of the o.ton 
the' rnited States was exported. Sometimes the ex- 



,r cent and .occasionally fell to about sixty 



lowest 



grown III 

ports rose to seventy pe. 

percent In quamiiv the amount exported since US.SO was 

;„ i^sl-lSS' 3 480.aH) bales, and re.u he<l the hig.. st pmnt in 

IWM with O -v6,000 bales. In the latter year the Tnited states 

exports equalled sixtv-three per cent nf the tmal amnunt entering 

into international trade. It is thus evident that any disturbance 

ot the movement of cotton from the United States must have a 

ptonounced ettect not only on the agriculture of this country but 

also on the cotton supply nf the world. 



TllK I NIIi;U -.lATKS 1'' 

The fnllowing tabic >luAVb the export^ ni ^raiii and ulhcr \cy- 
etablc prudiicts fur the years 1910 to \'>\A, inclusive. 

TAllLi: V 

Exports of Grain and \tGb.TAiii.K Pkodlct?, r'l()-l')14. 

(Vcars EtiiJing June M)) 

1910 1911 1''!.' l')l.i vn-i 

Corn & Corn ^»Icai 

— bubhcls 38,128,498 65,614,5.'.' A\.7'J7.:'n 5i),;.s(M4.i lil,7.'5.><l'> 

Wluat &. Flour — 

Ijushels 87„V>4..U8 69.311.760 79,6,S9.4I»» 142,,S79,.S% 14.\,-'M(.U0 

Barley — Inislids ... 4,.!11.566 9,399,346 1,585.-'4J 17,.5.i().7()3 (i,(.44.747 
Oats & Oatmeal — 

bushels .',548,726 3,845.850 _',(.77.749 3.!, 75"'. 177 _'.7-tS,743 

Citton~lbs., cOOO 

Omitted ) 3^00.708 4.0.U041 5.535.1.'5 A.r(<2.^)<, 4.7(.(i,'i40 

Potatoes — bushels . 999.476 i.,i83,887 1,J37._'76 2,0JS,_'61 l,7'M.(l73 
Kve & Rye Flour- 

bushels :A2.2(,2 4(),1.'3 31„W4 1.8."4.7.i8 2,27J.49J 

Tobacco (L"nmfd.) 

— ll.s 357,196,074 355,327.072 379.845.320 41S,796,9W) 449,749, W2 

Buckwheat — bushels 158.160 22.^ 180 1..M7 ?8i) 

Onions — bushels .. 254,255 234,289 313.2<)9 .=;71,i)74 .m,.^22 

Rice — Ib^^ 7.049.597 15.575.271 26.797,535 24.siil,2Sij 18.223.2o4 

Sugar ( Refined) — 

lbs 125.507,022 54,'M7,444 79,594,034 43,>»94,7'.l 50.895,726 

Btans \- Peas — 
bushels !65,72I 2SH.6.^8 341,2(.S 4(>0,8i'.8 314,o55 

F.xf'iirts of Aninialx airi! .hiiiiuil I'r.uhicts 

'Ihf cxp(irtatii)ti ii\ li\o aniin.als hcfurc the war l)cu;in, and witli 
the exceptiiin of hor^c^ and inulo hincc. ha^ lieen so small as to 
reqnirc little coninietU, In no case did the export.ations mean 
mnch either with re^fiect to tlie nnnilier of animal- or the amount 
of money involved. .Animal pr((diicts principally beef, dairy, and 
pork products are. however, of primary interest in the matter of 
internatiiinal trade. 

Beef and h\\-f I'rodtu-f.s'. The e.xports of heel and beef prod- 
ucts <:;re\v steadilx' nnd r.apidly until near the end of the nine- 
teenth century; the i,iy;h point was reached in lOilf) I'rom I'lOCi 
to I'lH, incln-'\-e, a rapid decline tuok place until in the latter 
year hardly more than (Hie-tifth of the i|uantity of the formei 
M'.ar was exported 'I'lie occasion for the decreasin.tr surplus is 
not mysterious. W'c were producins; fewer cattle whdc popula- 
tinn was on the incre,'v-e. The pro>;p(-ct in I'M 4 wa- surh that 



20 



K.riKCrS (IK IllK WAR LI'O.N ACKlCLI.TL-KK 



hail not sciiiiethnig of a >igiial ciiaractcr liappcm-d llic United 
States would soon liavc turnislicd little beet lor tlic i)coi)le oi 
other nations. 

I'ork and Pork I'roduits. The exportation of pork and pork 
product> iiK-rcased ^teadlly from 5UU,UUU,(K.M pi.uiidh m the early 
seventies to nearly three times that amount at the end of the 
century, iroin tiiat time to 1914 the (juantity exported tluctu- 
ated up and down, hut on the whole declined to about two-thirds 
of the amount annually as at the be^inninj,' of the twentieth cen- 
tury. Uurin^' the ti\e > ears just preceding the war the billion- 
pound mark had barely been touched once. The decrease in the 
number of ho^s m proportion to population was showing its effect 
markedly in the export figures. We were e.xportin-,' ap|)reciably 
less of the^e products annually during the years just preceding 
the war than for twenty years prior to l<)ll). 

Dairy Prnditcts. The products of the <l.iiry have not entered 
into international trade as much as might be expected if only their 
high values in proportion to luilk be taken into account. The 
explanation is found without doubt in the fart that in the F-uro- 
pean countries which might buy such products it has been ^found 
that the dairy cow is a nnich more economical i)roducer of food 
than is the meat animal, and in consequence they produce their 
dairv foods even though they buy meat and breadstuffs. Fur- 
thermore, not appreciating the food value of dairy products as 
compare.! with many other prlicles of diet great numbers of people 
feel that thev can not artord milk and butter. 

Cheese. International trade developed in cheese earlier than 
in butter on account of ease of handling with.mt refrigeration. 
^\■e were exporting from 80,000,000 to 120,000,000 pounds of 
cheese from 1S73 to 1893. FoJ' ng the latter date there was 
a decline and by 1*»05 the amount was 10,(3<^0,000 pounds Later 
it fell to a (|uarter of that figure and became insignificant. In 
the meantime we were importing chec-e. The lirst year to show 
an importation of 10,<K30,000 pounds was 1803. From this date 
until the war there was a steady increase, the amount in Vn-i 
reaching 64,000,000 pounds. 



i 



I IIK IMTKl) ST.MKS 21 

lliilter. lur a imic folluwinj,' the rapiil (k-vclopmeiit of the 
American creamery the exportation of butter became important. 
J)uriiig the se\enties we were selliiij,' five or six inilUon pounds a 
year. liy 1H83 the (|uaiitity had increased to J_',(J(K).(X)0 pounds, 
and a^ain to 30.0(X).(XX) in 1890. '1 he !<ip was reached just fn;- 
fore 1''00 with 31,0()0,(KX) pounds in 1M''7. The decrea.se tol- 
liiwiti^' this (late was not very rapid, nor very re^'iilar, there l)eing 
liotli ups and downs. However, by 19()6, which was an outstand- 
ing year with more than double the amount in eitlier the preced- 
ing or the following year, 27, O0U,()(X) pounils. the dechne Ix'gan 
in earnest. I'roni that time on to the beginning of the war the 
greate t anujunt of butter exported was in l'»07, 13.0(X),(K)0 
pounds, or less than half as nnich as in l'X)6. After 1907 there 
w;is not half as much as for that year during peace times. 1-rom 
I'MO to l'M4 inckisive the average was 4,478,IKX) pound;; per 
aninim. 

Condensed Milk. The trade in condensed milk is of relatively 
recent development. From 1910 to 1914 inclusive it amounted 
to a little less than 16,000,00(3 pounds per year. 

T.^RLE VI 
Exports of .Animals and .■\nimai. PRonurr.^, 1910-1914 
(Years Kndiiig June 30) 

1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 

Cattle — \o l.W.4,W l.iO.lOO 10.s,.sO«) 24.714 1H..576 

ll,,r<es — \o 2H.910 25.14,i J4.H2H 28.707 22.776 

Mnles — N'o 4..S12 o,58=i 4.i*01 4,744 4,883 

Sheep — No 44,.517 121,491 157,2(.3 187,1.52 l.S2,()00 

Suiiic-Xo 4,410 8„v=;i I9,0,!8 15,.W 10 122 

llief — lbs 286.2<i.s,874 2(j5,923,983 233,924,fi2() 166.483,294 148,487,828 

I'cirk — lbs 344,I82,.591 .•i6.r480,.U7 477„^77.9.s0 420,893,6,54 411,2,51,4.M 

I.ard — lbs 362.927,671 .S13.974,669 594.573.774 563,8(l3,07(. 510,781,578 

Mutton — lbs 1.989,472 2,160.259 .?..595,543 5,26^,019 4,f)85.4% 

W cujI — llis 47.520 \(it stated \nt st.nted 77 077 3,5? 348 

Hides & Skins — lbs. 14,635,075 44,.s94.235 25,24f),800 26.160,5,58 19 867 135 

Kres — do? 5.325,9.56 8,558,712 15,40',(,09 2O,40O„590 16,148,849 

Butter — lbs 3,140.545 4,877,797 6(l'12,235 3 58s MX) 3 695 507 

Cheese- lbs 2,84^.,70'"^ 10.,5c^,(i05 6..5.^7.559 2.59iM)58 2,427,577 

Condensed Milk — 

lt)s 1,5,311.318 12.180,445 20.642.738 16,525.918 16,209,082 



T^^ 



CHAPTKH TI 

Crops: Production. Prices and Exports for 1914 to 1918 

From tlic lime of the outlircak •)( the war in AiiKn-t, I'M 4. U< 
the entrance of the United States iiuu th.- uar in V>\7, there 
intervened two crop years. Dnvm^ thee year,-, there were, witlt 
few exceptions, sharp increases in prices, and increase in price is 
undoubtedly the mo.st universally effective force in stimulating 
greater production. The most rem .!)le exception to the in- 
crease in prices in .\ugusl. or almost immediately thereafter, was 
the opposite nmvement in cotton prices which almost immediately 
fell, the .Xovemher i)rice being but slightly over half that of 
the .August price While the governmental action for stimulat- 
ing crop ;m(l animal production came only after the eiitraiue m^ 
the I'nited St.atts into the war, there is so imuh continuity of 
inlluence of the war on agriculture from 1"11 on that it seems 
best to deal with the whole war period as ,i unit, noting the mo.li- 
fications that occurr-I a*' ^p.-l, V'!7, m connect io„ with each 
toi)ic. 

■Piii-. I. KADI m; Foot) Crops 
At the outbreak of any war there is an immediate, .ilmormal 
demand for foo.l crops and such feed grains as are of use in the 
army. It is much is though ;i new group of men and animals 
were brought within the market inlluence. P.oth men and horses 
do much additional work and therefore consume more. Much is 
destroyed, used lavishly, or perh.aps raiunred bv the eiienu . .\t 
the same time the productive power of the bcliigcrenl nations is 
reduced in proportion as its man and horse power are withdrawn 
from i)eaceful pursuits and used in the armies. M,.re. .\ er, where 
several countries which have previously tr.ided among themsehes 
are divided into two belligerent groups the course of trade must 



Tin: I NITEU STATES 



_'3 



In- iliiiim'il t'l lit the n<-\v aliL'iinu'iit^ Wlun tln' war Iirukf (Hit 
I.iiropc 111 1''14 all countries iiunlvcd waiiiiil to i)iiy inori! 
>upplies. It si'Dii (Icxdopi'ij tli.it a neutral cuiiiilry with vast 
stores of supplies for sale, Imt witli tew ships, could not jjo on 
tradiiiK in an iindi-tuilicd iiiatiiicr with all (.i.niitrics concerned. 
1 he shipjiiiiK "f the L'liited Statis had heeii \ery lirRely in the 
li.inds of the hellij;erent nations and no sooner liad the war hcKuii 
than the (leniian hoats were interned and the Knglish boats to a 
;^re.it extent withdraw ii for service in co"nection with the war. 
I iitil the .suhniarine hecame an important facior theri were 
eiiMii^h lioitoiiis to carry ilu- i'.iodsf,irf> .and nuiiiitioiis to tiic Al- 
lien. Ill fact the carrying pov.vrof the liritish nierchaiU marine 
was iiKTeased so far as tlie I'liiied Slates was concerned, since 
iiiaii\ -Ini)-. weie '.\ithdrawii frdiii the Pacific trade in order to 
take care of the more iniiiiediate needs on the .Atlantic. '1 his 
nioliili/iiiL,r ,,i" the >hippitiL; facilities hetucen this country and the 
we-terii Allies was ,i [iniiiary fact.ir in the iii.atter of price ;iiii| 
exportation of .Vinencan j;r,iin and cotton, and hence ;i stimiihis 
lu production. Ihe leading crdps will be ci^msidered separately. 

. /i7T, ;./(•. rroiliii ti.ni iiiiJ I'rii,- I'.y a fnrtunate circninstance, 
hardly nmre th.an ;in accident, the I'liited .States had on h.and an 
iinprccedeiiied -ii^nly of wheat at the hegiiininc; of the war, 1014. 
The crop of 1')],^ iiad, ^\itll ,i sinj^le possilile exception, exceeded 
in ;icre.ai,'e .all former whe.ii crojis. The yield per acre was close 
to the maximuni, with a resu'ting total yield greater th.ui ever 
iiefnre. This record croji was followed by another which ex- 
ceeded it by an amount greater than the normal ([uantity exported. 
The r>13 yield was 7()3.(>)0,000 bushels, the 1914 yield was 
S'J_',00O,U(X) bu.shels. This meant that we had for the two years 
an amount hardly short of half a billion bushels alxive the nor- 
mal amount consunted. 

Wars always create an abnormal demand for bread, with, 
therefore, an inevitable increase in the price of bre.id grains, 
1 he response of wheat to this condition was immediate. Within 



24 



EFFECTS OF THE WAU LTnN AllKKL-I.TrKE 



a month alter uar was declared m An^ti-t. VM4, the price m 
wheat in the American markets rose \'> cent- per hii-hel. Net 
this wa- t'.te tntie ut )ea- when a decrea-e m the price ua> t,. he 

expected. 

I'rohahK llie general kn, as ledge that 'Aar create-^ a demand mr 
wheat, ti.Jether with the ri>e ni price already taking place was 
the pr'imarv can-e of the mcica-ed wheat acreage in the tall of 
l')14 and the .piing oi I^'IS. The planting jumped iiuin .-^.i,- 
500.WO acres m 1"14 to 00,400,000 acre> m 1"15. an mcrea-e -I 
6 900.01X) acre-, ur 13 per cent. Coincident uith ihi> unprece- 
dented area soun m wheat came a yield oi 17 1.u-1k1> per acre, 
distinctly the heaviest viehl vet recor.le.l f.-r the cnnntry. This 
gave a total yield of 1 ,0_Y..O(X).000 hnshels, or ahmit ('<> per cent 
more than the quantitv needed for cm-umptmn. 

This remarkahle crop was. as it happened, a part -i a recrd- 
hreaking world cn>p. Thtis man and nature .-eem to have con- 
spired to hol.l the price of wheat down for at Ica-t another 
vear after it appeared to he de-tincd to ri-e. I he pnre was 
'lower in the fall of I'M.-, and till Angt.st. 1"!.,. than m the 
cnrre-i)onding ni.mth- a vear earlier. The wheat growe;- wa- 
therefore somewhat di-r.ppninted, and aUhou-h other price- h.id 
followed the -anu- general treii.l. the decisi.ni seems t,, have heen 
made in favor of returning i- the more u^ttal di-tnlnttmn ot 
acreages among the lea.ling grain crops. The acreage ot wheat 
in 1916 was 52,000.Ot'O acre-, or more than S.OOCOuT le- than 

for the previous year. 

The wheat crop of 1016 vi,l,l,-d h.V,.OOO..XV) hn-hel-. Ihi- 
ua- Imt little more than umngh i-r lu.me om-ani.tiun a-um,ng 
that to proceed .at the nnnn.al rate, 'nte Hnreau -l L rop l-,-t,- 
mates figures the nnrmal rate ni o-n-timption at .t3 hu-hel- pet 
capita attd the anunnit needed for seed at sr.OtTO.OOO hu.heU. 
Assuming the popt,lat„.n m l"lo to have heen 10n.000,(KHJ ,t 
meant =^30.000.000 hushels for consumption, and, .iddmg the 
amoum tised for seed, a total of 617.000.( '< ><> hn-hel- to he u^ed at 
home .an<l lait I'l.OOO.OOO hushels for export. Ihe only hope for 
anv con-ideraMe iinantity to .jntre was in a lessened consump- 



Till; LMIEU STATES 



til in, Ilowcve'-, since \\c IukI imt ciitcrcil the war at that time 
tlu' iuriii>hi!iL;; of l)rca(l i'"r ihu Allien had nut licuii aci.fi)teil as 
a (liny. I he hdjn- ti r fxpoii^ was in wheat held i>\er, <ir in a 
(hnnnihhed cdnsnniiniini. 

The world crop, as well as the L'nited State- wheat crop for 
l''lti, wa- -h'irt. Xi't all counirie- were nkluded ni the e>ti- 
niate, the Central .Moiiarchie.-. Poland, and Asiatic Russia heiiig 
omitted, but the anioiiiit rei>orted wa> J.''S4.(M0.000 hubhels. 
wherea- the -ante cotnune- had produced the jirevioii.-. year 
.\433,1>UO.O(K) Imshel-. a difference of 44«^a)U,000 Im-hels.' 
Thn- at the time the I'nned States entered the war the siirjilus 
from the hit; wheat crop- of l''l,^ t" l'il3 had di-appeared. antl 
the sliortage following the -mall crop nf l'»16 wa> Ijegmnini; to he 
felt. 

In the -prinL,' of 1''17. when the l'nited State^ entered the \\ar, 
the wheat 'iUllocjk wa- hy no nie:!n- [>ronn.-in!4. The coildition uf 
wheat accordinj,' to the Monthly Crop Report of Aprd. 1917. was 
6.^.4, the lowest in twelve yea's. .Moreover, the prospect for an 
nnnsual sowini; of .-jtrini; wheat was not good -ince the price- of 
' 'ther farm prodncts were iiKjre attractive. The amount of wheat 
on hand was small. Since it was already well into the season of 
-lirini; wheat -eediuL; when -.ar was declared, not miKh conld i)e 
done to stimulate production so far a> the I'M" crop w a-> con- 
cerned. Some more wheat wa- -own. rather late m the .-pring, 
than would ha\e heen -"un had it not heen for the wai and the 
attendant high prices. !"ven >o the acreage wa- sinalier than it 
hail heen since I'Mn. 45/41,000 acre-, and wa- 6,()( )0.0(ii3 acres 
Ic-- th.in the ,i\erage for the tive year.-. I'Ml-l'M?. The small 
acreage w;i- due largch to the abandoiinient of a larL'e .irca of 
winter whe.it on account of winterkilling. 

The -mall .acreage of wheat in l''17 w.as accompanied 1)\ a 
light _\icld. ;it le.a<t iiL^hter th:m had lieen the rn'e for some years, 
with the exception of l''l.. The Monthly Crop Re|)ort for De- 
centher, U»17, g^e- the e-tnuaied yield of wheat as 650.000,000 
Im-hels, but later ligures di-c!ose the fact that ihi- amount could 

' \\-arhi)ok\ Di",!. Iiin:iit uf .\t;rKultnrf. 101/". 



26 



Kll-Kl IS Ml- TllK WAK ITON .\(;RKI' I.TUKE 



never be accounted for rmLaijly r,( io,(X)0.nO0 bushels was all 
that was actually harxesird Tluis for the -econd time followinfT 
the big emp of l'»13 the l/iiited State- had failed t.. produce iny 
consicferable anioiiiu -f uheat fur sale outside the country, unk-s 
it should couie from a decrease below the regular amount 
consumed. 



PRICES OF GRAIN — UNITED STATES 




11114 



1915 



ISIlli 



1917 



191s 



Chart I Grain Prices Receive,! l.y tlic l-armers. The prices nf t;rai.i ro.e 
with the beKinning of the war. fell ni 1915 on account ot big yields, and ro.e 
sbariily thereafter. 

Meantime the prices of wheat underwent a transformation. 
'1 he Allies were jetting short of wheat to an alarming extent and 
America had little with which to supplv the shortage. In the 
f.dl of I'lUi the price began to ri-e in earnest. Starting at $1.07 
,n Atigu-t it reache.j $1.60 in 1 'eccmber, an,l $1.80 by April 1. 



♦'« 



THE LNITKU STATES 



27 



19 1".' Xo sooner liad the United States entered tlie war than 
the priLC of wheal went to an uniirecedented level. In May, 
I'JlJ, ca.ih wheat sold lur .'?3.4.S a bn>hel, and llnnr eone^pdnd- 
ingly rose to $18 a barrel. The regulation of wheal prices, 
wliicli occurred a few nioiiihs later," was a [jrim iry intluence in 
deterniining the amount of wheat tiiat would be grown. The 
minimum price set by the Food Administration for the 1918 
crop was '$2.00 a bushel. This was ackn<jwledged to be a tenta- 
tive price only and was not high enougli to induce the sowing of 
an unusually large acreage m the fall of I'Jl/. .\ii appeal was 
made to patriotism as an ac'ditional moti\e and the Department 
^)i Agricuhure set the acreage of winter wheal ilesired al 47,- 
337,000 acres. Excessively dry weallier interlered with the 
sowing in many places, while wet weather and lack of help did 
the same in other sections. The area reported sown was 42,- 
170,000 acres. This was far below the ideal but, nevertheless, 
was greater than ever before sown in any fall, the highest figure 
reached previously having been 4i,0l_',000 in the fall of 1914. 
While the price offered hardly seems sutiicienl to call out an 
unusual eitort to increase produciion it must be remembered that 
the certainty of a fairly high price appeals strongly to manv -iien. 
The other high prices were not guaranteed and might not u..a. 

'liie distribution of tiie wheat acreage among the .Stales for 
the years 1916 and 1917 is of interest. In eleven diilereiit Slates 
the acreage of fall sown wheat exceeds a million acres encli, and 
in all of diese e.xcept Missouri, Xebraska, and Texas, the gov- 
eninK-nt had asked for more than a ten per cent increase. In two 
instances, Xorth Carolina and Missouri, the response was beyond 
the a-kmg: in Indiain it was ecjual to tiie asking: in the other 
eight States dciidedh !)eIow. The acreages and 

follow I''' 

' Monthly ("rcip Report, DecciiilnT. 1917. 

-l)i«ciisMil iiinlor "Food Control." ]ieiow. • 

^ Biireavi of Crop Estimates, Report of Dectnibcr 19, 1917. 



lercenlages 



li- SI 



28 



EFFECTS Ol- TllK W 



IN Ai.KKL-LirKE 



TABLK VII 

The 1917-lS 'Vinter \Viie.\t Acreages Suggested anu Re^^lizeu 



V>\7Cnm- Ask-c'l fcir 
lareil with in Cimiiiari'-Mii 
1910 with l''l(j 





.\rca 


Sown 




V>\7 


1910 


State 


•Veres 


.•\cres 


Penns\lvania .... 


. 1.5.;U,IHM) 


1,457.IJ(X) 


Virginia 


.. l,4<>.i.0(Kt 


l..viO.()0'' 


North Carolina.. 


. . 1,17'».IKK) 


1.i)J5,(),aJ 


(jhio 


. . i.HS.lKH) 


1.95l».000 


Indiana 


. . 2.()45.IX)0 


_M1().()0() 


Illinois 


. . 2.t)0_'.0U() 


2,.?65.(XK) 


Missouri 


.. .'.875.00O 


J,.i()O.0()() 


Nebraska 


.. ,IU5.(10() 


.i,()45.(KM> 


Kansas 


. . ".479,(X)0 


9,479.(XX) 


Texns 


. . l.f).'-'.0(X) 


1,725.000 




.. 3,.'64,0<)0 


3.400,000 










31,939.00<J 


30.792,000 



1057o 

110 

115 

no 

125 
110 
125 

86 

IO(J 

94 

90 

10.1.7 



114-; 
lis 

112 

loo 

125 
124 
105 

101 
112 
108 
125 



114.3 



The 1918 Si'kixi; Whkat .Kckeages Suggested and Realized 



Stale 

Maine 

Vermont 

New York 

Ohio 

Indiana 

Illinois 

Michigan 

Wisconsin 

Minnesota 

Iowa 

North Dakota.. 
Sonth Dakota. . 

Nebraska 

Kansas 

.Montana 

Wyoming 

Cahforiiia 

New Mexico . , 

Utah 

Nevada 

Idaho 

Washington . . 
Oregon 



Area Sown 


1918 Com- 


.\sked for 


1918 


1917 


pared with 


in Comjiarison 


.\cres 


Acres 


1917 


with 1917 


.'.'..(XX1 


11,000 


209';'6 


182',;., 


KMXXl 


3,000 


350 


167 


50.(XX) 








l.^.OIH) 








7,(K10 








18IMXH) 








.55.(HX» 








3.i.).(XX) 


14(i.(«X) 


228 


342 


4.038,000 


3.230.tX)0 


125 


122 


650,000 


250.otK) 


260 


300 


7.770.>'KlO 


7.(KM).(XK) 


111 


100 


4,243.(Xll) 


3.59fi.(XX) 


118 


100 


512.000 


400.000 


128 


175 


.^l.i")i) 


44.1101) 


116 


114 


1.380,IXX) 


1,122,(K)0 


123 


50 


160.000 


123.000 


l.iO 


142 


iU.OOO 


2(>4,0(X) 


118 


123 


79(X)r) 


(i9.000 


115 


114 


1I)4.()IH» 


'Xl.Om 


115 


139 


.>i|,IKH) 


37.000 


lO.i 


135 


4(.'(.INK) 


375.IXX) 


125 


62 


1, 728.(11 K) 


1,350.000 


128 


126 


441. (XXj 


401.(K)0 


110 

122.2 


/3 


22,629,(XX1 


IS, .M 1,000 


114 



I'nintluenred I)v patriotism and with no sjuaraiitood miiiinmm 
j^rice the acreage sown in l'M4 oxcccdcd hy 4,000,000 acre-- the 
>u\vinf of the previous \car. and [j.issed the previous inaxiinuni 



llli: INITKU >TATES 



29 



acreage of 1'»U3. With the S2.00 price in view one wmiM have 
preihcted a greater increase in the acreage suwn in the fall of 
\'>\~ tlian actually occurred. There are gocul reasons to heliexe 
that had the weather not been so unfavorable the decrease of over 
half a million acres in the three States of Texas, Uklahoiiia and 
\\'a>hnigt')n would lujt ha\e been reported, but instead these 
States would ha\c siiown some increase. Even so there could 
not well have been a total increase appioaching the seven and a 
(juarter milli(;n acres a^ked for. 

Before the lime had arrived for sowing spring wheat in 1918, 
the J 'resident announced the price of S-'-iU per bushel, thus rais- 
nig the guaranteed offer twenty cents abo\e the iironiise made 
m 1917. 1 he response was all that could reasonably be expected 
— m fact it is safe to say that for any additional acreage of 
wheat over tiiat actually sown tliere must have been a cnrre- 
■vponding decrease in other acreages, and. furthermore, that wheat 
would have been smvn on land not well ailaptcd to it. The fall 
sowing, had the weather permitted, miglit ha\e been somewhat 
fiutlur expanded ad\ antage(/usly ; the sprmg sowing w;is jierhaps 
lar.L;e enough. 

The Department of .Agriculture reports J2.4S'''.C)00 acres of 
spring sown wluit,' an increase of 21.5 per cent n\er that of 
1917. The acreage of all wheat for 1918. 58.881.000 acres, is an 
increase of 2H.2 per cent over that of 1917. Thus the acreage 
of all wheal for l'M8 is greater than ever kivnvn at any time 
exce])t in 1915, ami is but 1,588,000 acres below the acreage of 
that year. 

Suuuuary of the Inthtcncc of tin- IJ'ar on .Imrrirdn U'lirat. 
To what extent was the war responsible for the trend of events 
in the history of wheat production and trade fron; 1*^14 to \'^\7'' 
1 lie iiuestion admits of fairlv definite answer. The war kig.in 
in tlie mid'^t of 'lie I'M 4 harvest, anil before any considerable 
amount had been sold. Tlie crop was an excelicnl one in quan- 
tit\' and <ol(l for upwards of 25 per cent abo\e the prices prevail- 
ing during the preceding year. This induced the great acre.ige of 

1 .Monthly Crop Report. June. 1918. 



H 



1 1 

4-.. 



r 1 



30 



EFFECTS OF THE WAK ITON AGRICULTfKE 



I'll 5, r)0,0OO,O(W acres, nr atjoul 20 per cent ahovc normal. The 
record yield of wheal ihroughtuit the world in 1''13 held the price 
down and the American farmers dropped back to normal acreages 
of wheat m VJUk In the fall of 1916 the sowing was extensive, 
>timulated by ingh prices following a light yield, but winter 
kdling reduced the acreage to the lowest point smce I'MJ, aii<l 
unfavorable weather re: ced the yield to the lowest point since 
l'X)4.' The farmers were jiist beginning to respond to the stmi- 
ulu> ol increased price following the relatively low prices from 
the fall of U^i5 U> the fall of 1916. The weather prevented an 
unusual yield in both 1916 and 1917. and the high prices of the 
spring of 1917 were taken in hand by the l"<iod Administration 
before the time for sowii^',' m the fall of that year. The heavy 
e.:portalion during l'»16 following a rather light crop was made 
possible by the high prices, but other farm prices were so high 
in the spring of 1''17 th.it the inducement to sow wheat in jilice of 
corn or oats was no greater than normal. Tiius w hat would have 
been the effect of war prices on wheat priHluction and exportation, 
had prices been allowed to nke the course marked out by ooiiipe- 
titi.m ;m(l .'.iiecul.ition. and what has taken jilace under the regu- 
lated prices are two dilTerent stories. I'urthermorc. what would 
have happened is a matter of -peculation and need be given little 
space. That the price of wtie:it would have been much higher is 
beyond question. That lhi> higher price would have been effec- 
tive in inducing the sowing of more wlictt than has been -own is 
also beyond (luestion. On the other IimkI iIk- unregulated price 
would no doubt ha\e been unstable and the whe.it growers kept in 
a continual -tatc of unrest. This wotild h.i\e olT-et mnch of tin 
good result r,i the added -iipplv a- well a. create trouble among 
consumers oser dear bread. 

Exporiafum. There are two forces v.liich alw.iys tend to 
draw or send produce to a market. I'he mie is [.rice, the other 
is alnindaiice. In the case of high prices the tendency on the jiart 
of sellers is to .sell not only the nonual surplus but to exceed that. 

» This is based <m the fiR.ires of the I'on 1 A.lministrition. which iiulicate 
about 50,000.000 bushels U-ss th.iii llie istimate ui the Dciiartnient ot Agri- 
culture. 



t- M 



THE I'NITKU STAllCS 



31 



getting' alniig at home with a relatively small siipjily. In the case 
of abuiKJaiice of product it will In; sent to market even though the 
price lie unattractive. Ju>t as tlie war began, hoth incentives were 
at work to induce American wheat to go to Europe, There was 
an attracti\e price and an abundance t^f wheat. We had Ik'cu 
]ir(jducin_i; about seven or eight bu^^el■; of wheat per capita and 
selling abroad the excess hu.shel or two. For several years pre- 
ceding our entrance into the war we had had nearly double the 
usual surplus 

The combined circumstance's of a bountiful wheat crop in 1913 
and again in 1''14 followed by a record croj) in 1913 allowed 
heavy exports without any disturbance at home so far as supplies 
of wheat were concerned. I'rom Jnlv 1. 1''14, to July 1, 1913. 
the exportation reached 332,00(1,000 bushels. The next year 
243,000, (XX) bushels were exported, and still there w;is a full sup- 
ply left. This was following the great crop of 1913. b"or the 
year 1916 to l'*17. the exjiorts were still above the norma!, 
amounting to 203.000.000 bushels. While it did not apjiear 
likely, in view ■){ ti.o .-imnuiU of wheat produced in I'Ut). that so 
large an amount could be spared as was exported in 1916-17 it 
is to be explaitied that the higher price called out the surplus 
niiiil the (|tiantit\- on hand ;'.t the close of the year was the small- 
est in a decade. .M(.ireo\er, for some reason, probably the higher 
prices, the amount con-uiTied fell some ten per cent below normal. 

During the lir^t few months of ih.e fiscal year 1917-lS the ex- 
[)i«rt- were decidi'd'y ji iw . lnwer than for five years i)receding. 
The amount :',;irrie(l in jul\, .\ugnst and September, l'>17, 
23.000.000 buslnlv, was le>s than for the month of July alone in 
l'^14.' " T'roni the time of the organization <if the (irain ( or- 
j)nration under the I'ood .\dministration in the summer of 1''17 
the question of ex[)orts was no longer one of free play of eco- 
nomic forces." 

l!v the time the vlieat crop of 1917 was harvested it was evi- 
dent that the situation in Eurojic for the following year was des- 
tined to be desperate. The I'liitcd Kingdom. France and Italy 

• Vcnrh-oh, Department cif AL'rictiltiirc. 1^17. Article liy O. C. .'^tiiie. 



t. 



it 



i 
-i 

:i 



32 



EFFECTS OF TIIK WAK ll'nN ACKICl'I-XrUE 



w-rc J13,0()0.LX)0 huslicls hhuri ol their u^ual amount nf honic- 
gr.nvii wheat. Wink- thi-re \va< wheal tor cxpi 't in Australia 
and Argentina tliere u-.e im .hii.. mr carrying any consi.leiahle 
|.an ,.t the aniniint nee.le.l. The ue.lern Alhe-^ nornially import 
ahoiit 3K\t«>'>.0()(> iui>lieK of uheat. and heing >hon _M,v( >0(),00() 
bushel, in the home supplv ' the) needed 3J(.,OtlO.UH ) hudieU to 
make np the n^iial amount lor eon>umpti..n. A. a matter oi tact 
thev rcaliv needeil m-re tlian enough to make up the UMial (pian- 
titv conMuned -mee they were short of other foodstuti's not easily 
shipped, and lunh.ermore on account of having so many men m 
the army. I'.read is, if ohtainaMe, one of the mam article-^ oi 
diet for tlie army. 

The rimed Stale- h.id on hand at the hegmnmg of the year 
1917-18 ahout 4ii.ii(H)A)i><t hushels of lield o\er wlieat. 1 he 
crop of 1"I17 ua> n-t fir from COO,! lOO.OtH) hu-heK. W Hh an 
average o.n-iimption of 5.'^ hushels per e„pita. and S7,nO(i,t)00 
l.ii>hel> for seed, hut very little could l)e spared, apparently not 
over -e\en or eight million bushels. On the other hand by cutting 
down consumption well below normal the amount for e\pi>rt 
would be eorre-pondingly increased. Should the con-umptiou l)e 
brought to the average of the previous year there would be added 
to the lO.iHiO.nfX) bushel surplu- 61 .SOI^.OOO bushels more, or a 
total of 71.800.iXH) bu-hels. .Again there was the possibility of 
imports into the L'nited States fr.nn .\u-tralia which would re- 
pleni-h the sujjply for export. 

The e\idence with re-pect to production, consuiuptiou anil ex- 
p.irt- of wheat dm in- the current \ear is contbcting, but out of it 
all the f.ict is si-mticant that during the fiscal year, beginning 
Inlv 1, bil7, we exported l-K ».0( lO.Onii bushels, or about double 
"the amount supposed to be available with consumption cut as for 
the year 10K)-17. The imjiorts for the year reached _"'>.(X)0,- 
000 bushels. The Food Xdministra'.ion belie\ed that during the 
first nine months of the ve;ir coUr^un-.ption had been little below 
normal- If this be true, and no doubt it is, the saving of wheat 

1 Yearbook, Department of .\RricnIture, 1017. " Worl.l's Wheat .'^iipply." 
^CommenuU IViSt. .^pril 20, K'lS, 



THE IMItU blATKS 



ii 



ri-Milvc(l itself into one of coniimlsioii ami was mainly crowilcil 
into ilic last three inuiillis ot the year.' 



'11 



le lithe 
iiniiaiiee i> s 



Rye 

her Kailiiu' liread L'lain 'if 



lidwn li\ the relatne ai.reaL'e >> 



Aiiierit a i> r\e, hut its iin- 



1 thi> efdj) a> C'liii- 



pa 



lared with the wheat aere ii:e. 



ve-ted from TMO to 1"»14 was .iw5,0()U acre>. Siiiee 



The avera^'e aereaj;e of r}e har- 
tliat time 



there has been a pronouneecl iiierease a'tliou^ 
still relativelv in>i|,Mnlicant, as coiti[)are(l 



li the aiiioiint 1- 



(iat> 



111 



witli ciini. wh'.-at ami 
I'U.T there were over ^.iWjKIQ aere>, and in I'M" 



er 4,l»00,00() ( Tahle V W 



I'roni the standpoint of peneiit- 



a<'e 



tl 



lis IS one oi 



th 



e greatest increases anion^' crops. 



The 



aiiioiint of rve sown 



in l'U7, for harvest in I'MS, as compareil 



itli the pre\ions year was 



36.r, 



) tier ceil 



lia-teii to sa\ 



however, that in actual area tlii> b 



t greater. One must 
Milv 1,630,(X)0 



Moreover, tliis was not a turniii'j from wheat to rye to 



acre- 

anv coiisideralile extent, since o\ 

(lutsiije of the winter wheat areas 



er half of this acreaije is found 



he hea\v 



"^eedinc to rve in 



the fall of l')17 seems to liave heen caused mainly l>y two circum- 
stances. I'lr-^t, the severe drou'dits in Xortli and South i^akot.a 



in 1<>1(') ami I'M: 



the re 



lativelv liii'h iirice of r\ 



() 



ver seven-eiph 



th-^ 



tl 



le mere 



ase in the r\-e acreai 



thi 



countrv took place in tlie--e two States, and as a matter of fact. 



]jrclt\- mucli all of this in 
fanners were i^ettint; de<i 



Xorth Dakota. The Xortli Dakota 



lerate 



liev niu<t raise soi 



iH'th 



fail 



lire tor two vears 



.\ 



winter 
Thev 



Wheat h.ad heen a comparative 

crop stands the -ummer drought better than a ^jirinu crop 

can not sow winter wheat -o thev are trying,' rye. 

The price of rve rose very promptly folIowin,<: the declaration 
of war in I'^'U. It had been worth Ci\ cent~ in Aui^U'^t and ro~e 
to 7? cents the next month. In .Xugust, I'M 5, it stood at 8'1 
cents, but like other Rf'Tins it fell to a lower level on account of 
the bifr crops of th.it summer. In the fall of 1016 it started ofif at 
a ijollar in Sejitember and CMntinued to ri->e till in June. 1017, it 

'For exports ..f lOlO-lQlS ste Ta!>Ie X. 



34 EFFECTS OF THE WAR ll'dN At.KU ri.TlUK 

was (luotcd at $1.83 per Ini-licl Alter (Irojipiiij,' a few cents dur- 
ing tlif fall months it again ro>c, going to ?^-' -<5 on the I hicago 
market m March. 1'>1S. The occasion tor this was the demaiKl 
lor rye Hour a^ a ^uli-tituie lor wheat lloiir. Nothing otticial 
was done with ropect to rye price, it being allowed to take its 
own course. Noriii.illy llic price of rye has been a!)ont two-third- 
that oi wluat, but duruig the sow nig season of I'M" it was ahout 
80 per cent of that of wheat, while during several nioiilhs in the 
spring of 1918 it was higher tlian wheal by five to twenty cent> 
a bushel. 

Rye has never been raised in such quantities as to become of 
much consequence in tlie export m.irket. From 1910 to l''I le 
average amount of r_\e exjiovtcl was less th.-iii a imllion biiMiels 
per year. The rye used in !-.ngland and France had been coming 
from (ierniany and Russia. It no longer being possible to get 
supplies from ilio~e countries the next most available source w;is 
the United States, and .it once. I'M 4 to V<\?. the exports rose 
to 13,00<UKX) l)U-heN. The next \ear 1,^J50.U0U bushels were 
exported, and the third year. en<ling June 30, 191/, 1,1.704,000 
bu-heU were exported, i See Table X. ) While the-e amoiuits 
are not large in comparison with wheat exports they are never- 
theless imijortant, and have had nnuh to do with making rye suf- 
ficiently scarce to account in lar-e mci-ure lor the hi,uh [irices. 

Corn 

Although not a tii.iior bread gniin as used in .'\iiierica the 
greatest of all the cereal crops from the stancVoint of acres, bush- 
e!-, and value is corn. There seemed to be no -peci.il inducement 
in l'»l.\ o- m the -prim^ of I'MT,. to briu^ out a lar-er iiu:intity 
of corn th;m usual In fact, corn was not again --o high in price 
for two full vears .ts during the temporary ihirry following the 
declaration of w;ir in T'H. 

Acreage. It is not, therefore, at all strange that the acreage 
remained almost cou^-tant during I'^IS and 1016. Due to the 
season, the production of corn in 101? was unusually large, hav- 
ms: never been exceeded but once, in lOlJ. Tlic crop of 1^16 



:iiE rMiru sT.\ri;> 



35 



ua-~, ijii ilic ciintrarv, Ih'Iow tlie avcrnj^c <>f iln' pcriMd 1''10 to 
1914, l>y 165,O0O,(K)0 bushels. By !)fCfiiili<.r 1. I'Mo. tin 



nrice 



of corn, on farms, was 88.9 cents. In ( liu-.i^'o (luring' ili:it iiKnith 
it reached 96 cents, and somi passed the dollar mark. '[\k- i.irni 
price reached a (!i)llar iii .M.irch. 1''17. With the-e very t.iii-ihie 
reasons for growm;; nmrc coin liet'irc him. the I 



per 



ire luiii. ! 
uiasidii to l)rin<r aUmt ;in nicre.ise in the 



irinei' needed no 
17 Corn i)lantinf^. 



The acreai!e increased fr..ni li)3.-"^().(HHt acre. ni I'Mo to 1 T^- 



/.s 



5.000 



icres II 



1 I'M; 



11 



lis wa-- an increase u 



I 14.4.^' ',110(1 acres. 



(ir 13.^! per cent, greater di.m had ever taken i)lace he fore, evei 
within ;i live year perind. With ;i single exceptmn. that (>\ Ok 



a- 



h'lnia, increases in curn .acreages vere repnru 



."state. 



neat 



trains m acre.ige. w 



hik 



1 I'M" fur every 
jcneral in uiie sense. 



were. ne\enheless, confined more particularly to three distinct dis- 
tricts. \'.\ far the greatest is Kansas and Xehr.isk.a, a winter 
whe.it di-irici The wheat had winter killed on account of dry 
sseailur. The land w;is ;i\ailalile for some otlier crop and the 
most tisu.al one to he substituted was cor<i. !n these two States 
there \\;is an increase in corn acreage over that of 1916 of more 
than 4,000,000 acres, or well above a f|uarter of the total for the 
country. The second district with respect to the expansion in 
Corn acreage is the South. In eleven southern .States including 
North Carolina, Kentucky, .Arkansas, and the .'states to the south 
of them, together with Texas, there was an increase of 5.111.00O 
acres, or over a third of the total increase for the coiintry. The 
third district in which an important increase occurred comprised 
the very heart of the corn belt. In low.a. Illinois, Indiana. Mis- 
souri .and Ohio, ranging in the order named from 1,00(\000 acres 
down to ,^50,0t'K), there was an aggregate increase of over 
3,000,000 .acres, or over one-fifth of the total. Summing the 
matter up, it mav be said that the increase in the corn acreage 
was m.ainly in the corn belt and in the South. In these two 
groups together we have fourteen States incluiling seven corn belt 
States, Kansas, Xebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and 
Chio. anil seven southern States, Kentucky. Tennessee, Missis- 
sippi. .Mahama, Georgia. North Carolina and South Carolina. 



36 



EFFECTS «>1 lllK N^AK I TON' AC.klCLl.TLUK 



These fmirtctn States containing loss tlian one-fourth the area of 
the conntrv. sliow two-thirds of the corn acreage increase. 
Everything considered, the added acreage within the corn l)elt is 
not remarkable; the expansion in the South is reniarkal)le. 

I'rodmtion. 'Ihe reported yield of corn for 1''17 was 3.150,- 
0(X).l.X)(» bushels, an amount greater by 34,000,(KXJ busheK tli:m 
the record yield of 1912. It must be rtogni/e '. however, tliat 
there is still something to l)e desired in the crop reporting system. 
The crop of 1917 was very largely immature corn and what it 
wouhl have represented in terms of sound, or marketable, corn 
is difficult of determination. Certain it is that there was very 
much less in value of any form than was suggested by the figures 
publisheil. 

Price. The price of corn remained extremely high tliroughoiit 
the year 1017. The price to producers in Augu-t was SI 97. at 
which time the prices at the central markets \\. re well alcove 
$2.00. I-.vcti with the new crop prices remained high durmg the 
fall of 1017 and the winter following. In Xovei'iber farmers 
were receiving $1.46 per bushel.' 

Exports. The exports <.f com had never been ver>- great tn 
terms of the amount produced, .nid had been down to one or two 
per cent of the crop for some years preicdinL; the u.ir At the 
lie-inning uf the war tlie exports were .-O.OOO.OOO bushels, or 1/) 
per cent of the amount grown in ^'14 The next year but 40.- 
OOtiriOO Ini^iels were exported. i'his i- in m.irked rnntrast with 
the imiir.-ce.knte.l ulieat exports of those years. In 1016-17 the 
exports amounted to 67.0n0,000 bushels, and in 1017-18. to 48,- 
484.000 bushels. 

Corn is not u-ed -reatlv as a foo.l in any nt the I'.uropean 
countries. It is not the main reli.mce in the feed of army horses. 
and it has been too dear to be -old abroad as a f'-ed f-.r meat or 
dairy animals. For th-.se reas(,ns it has imt entered extensively 
into foreign trade 

• The iirices of corn q.iote.l in the ,-ibovc pa.-.iRrai.hs .irc taken from the 
Monthly Crop Reports. 



THE UNITED STATES 



i7 



Oats 

The ilcmand for oats for war purposes is very real aiul tlirect, 
aiid the price re^p<in<leil at niice. risiiit,' five cents a husliel uithin 
a month after war was <leclareil. W hiK this was not a very 
jjreat rise in price it must lie renienilxTed iliat it took place at the 
time of ye.jr when oats almost always decline in price, and. more- 
over, it was in the face of a heavy crop. 

Acreage. The acreages sown to oats in 1915 and 1916 were 
jjreater than ever liefore. though not greatly in excess of the nor- 
mal rate of increase which h.id Iiecn taking place during previous 
years. The area sown in 1914 was 38.4U(1.(X)0 acres: in 1915. 
'41.000,000: in 1916, 41, .sr»O.00(h while in 1917 it made a listinct 
advance, reaching 43..^72.(X)<> acres. Thus the acreage )i 1917 
was greater ili.ni tli.it nf I'M4 liy 5,20('.000 acres, or 1.^ .^ ]icr 
cent, and Ljnater than th.it of 1*'16 hy over 2,000.000 acres, or 
ahont 5 per cent llic .'icrcagc for 1'*1S is according to the esti- 
mate |iiil)li-iied 111 June, 44,474.fK)n ;uTe^. ;in increase of 902,000 
acres, or 2. 1 per cent. 

The great iiiereise in acreage in 1''17 wa> due a-~ imuli in tlie 
accidents nf the we.iilier as to any more e\])lain,ilile i.iu-e. As 
in till' ^■.•l^e ni" I lie c irn .acreage a considerable area of w inter wheat 
land, oil which the wheat crop failed to get thr<nigh the winter. 
was sown to oats in the s])riiig. ( )ver three- fdiirtli- oi the .idded 
acres of 1917 as compared wjtli l'n6 were found in Kansas and 
Xehra'ika, the States suffering the greatest I'-s in winter wheat, 
rile li.il.nue of the itu'rci-e, "Tilv ;i h.alf millicin :icre<. \\a> wiiiely 
distrilmted <'Vt:r the n'>iiliern St.ite^. Actu;illy there wa> more 
than this amount of increase in the Xorth since the acreage in the 
South was in siih'^t.antially every .Sfatc lower than in I'UC. Thus 
the li.'ilf niilli'iii acres was a net inc-ease after allowar.ce was 
made for thc'^e decreases. However, there was no pnjiiounccd 
increase in anv .^tate other than those mentioned. Kansas and 
Xel)ra-~ka. .\pii,irentl\-. the South in expanding the eorti acreage 
encroached upon the o.its acreage. This is reasonable since oats 
have never l)een a very profitable crop in the South. 



M 



38 



i;i-i-i:cis or rwv. war > ""V ai.hiiL i.rviu: 



rroductioit. The pr.Hlucti.m of (Kit; was abov.- the avera.i;e 
in 1'114. l,141.Ull(),(H)() liii>hcls. luit reached the reeord making 
f,ou'-e Mt' 1 's40,000,0a) bushels in l'M3. while tl' I'Mf) crup was 
the third highest on recr.l w,m 1._'3.',00().000 bushels. Theti 
came the cr.-p of I'U/" uith the advantaKC of a lew million acres 
more of land coiitnluitm.i; to the yield and a reported production 
of 1.5s7,(KM\(tOO !m^hel>, or a little more than the remarkable 
crop of 1"15. 'Ihus the country has been supplied '.vith oats as 
never iKiore. 'I'be four crops from 1914 to 1917 inclusi.- fur- 
nished more oats by S,S().OiH).(X)0 bushels than did the four '::ops 
preceding 1914. This increase was in but small degree due to 
the war. It i-, however, of great importai ce with respect ■•> the 
war, the four crops 1"1- to l'>17. amounting in quantity M very 
nearly as much as live ordinary crops, yet even so oats we.-e 
scarce bv the spring of 1918. 

Pncc'. The price of oats rose on the outbreak of the war but 
■ failed to go abnormally high either then or until V)\7. -\lwut 
the time \merica entered the war oats like all other cereals began 
t,^ mount in price and ranged from 62 to 74 cents, farm price, 
during the remainder of 1917. The Chicago price reached »/ 
cents in the spring .,f 1918 and was taken in hand by the lo,)d 
Administration, the limit on future bidding being limited to 9.^ 
cents. Locally they have sold repeatedly at $100, even in the 
heart of the main oat producing districts. 

n.vi'oits. The exportation of oats h.is always been very irreg- 
ular, changing from a million bushels one year to ten or t-fteen 
million the next, and. for instance, dropping from 48,000 000 
bushel, in 1"05 to 6,n00,0(X) bushels in 1"06. During the first 
year of the war we exported the unprecedented (itiantity of bX\- 
000,000 bushels and fell less than .'.MOO.OOO bushels tx4ow_- that 
figure the second vear. l"or the year ending June 30, 1917, the 
exportation was 93,(X)O,0OO buTiels, Thus we were from 1914 
to 1017 exporting about ten times ;is many oats as usual. 

The c.nmtries furnishing the bulk of the oats entering into in- 
ternational trade are Russia, .Argentina, Canada and the Cnited 
States. The leading imptjrting countries were, normally, the 



TUK r.NirEr, riJATK.S 



39 



United Kin,L,'di)m and I'rancc. these two countries taking.' for ex- 
ample, in r^l.^, -l.-i per cent ci the total import-- ot all countries, 
in l')15, that is iroui July 1, I'Jl 4, 'o June 30, 1915, these two 
conmrie> took more llian <S5 [ler cent of the imports reported fur 
luirope, llo.OOO.OCK) out of 135,(X)OUOO bushels.' There were 
no reiinrts for the Central Mtjuarchies, and the importations by 
the small neutral countries had fallen off greatly from tlic figures 
of the preceding year. For the year ending June 3(^. 1917, the 
exports of oat.-- were ''S.OOt^.OtW bii>hels, or ncarlv as great as fcjr 
eitiier of the precechng tw(^ years. I'nr the year 1917-18, the 
exports amounted to 12.^,30('>,()00 bu^hel^. a quantity somewhat 
greater than fur the years immediately preceding.- Clearly the 
-Mlies have been, and still are, greatly de:>endent upon the .Amer- 
ican stipply of oats. The only other ciuintries able to furnish 
oats in any considerabl' atriount for the .Mlies are Canada and 
Arger.'na. The Canadian supply is by no means adequate and 
Argentina is a long way off in view of the shortage in shipping. 
America lias l>een aljle to supply the demand fur oats out of 
very bountiful crops. .-\ short crop would mean great hardship 
to all concerned. 

Barley 

Acreage. The only other cereal crop of great importance i.s 
barley, and tha^ in acreage is but about one-fifth .as extensive as 
the oat crop). I'nr the ti\e year period, 1910-1914. the average 
acreage of barley was 7,59i,(XW acres. Due, no doubt, to the 
stimulation of tlie higher prices the acreage increased from 
7,149,a:)0 acres in 1915 to S.835.lX)0 acres in 1917. While this 
represents a big increase relatively, it amounts to but l.r)87.(X10 
acres: not a great area in terms of the extent of land pro<lucing 
cereal^. The report for 1018 shows '),108,000 acres of liarley. 
an increase of 273, f">00 acres, or 3 1 per cent over the acreage of 
1916-17. 

Proiliiitiiii: The amount of 1 ,iriev produced averaged fioni 

' yiarhiiitlc. Department nf Aurioultnro, 1^16. 

- Rr.iiKtrei t'-i, Felir'iary J.', 1U18. In the fiptires for put of this year oat- 
meal UMS nut iiKhiileil. 









»1. 

i\ 



40 



EFFF.CTS OF Till: WAR I ION Ar.KICT 1-TLK1-: 



lOlO to 1914, 186,(X^0,0OO tmshels. In 1915 it rose to 229,- 
000.(K)0 bushels, and in 1<M7, even with • yicattr acreage, fell 
liack to 209.CXX),000 bushels. 

Price. The price of barley rose perceptibly, followin.L; the out- 
break of the war. from 45 cents tu 52.b cents per busliel. There 
was not, however, any disposition to rush into barley production, 
and not till the fall of 1916 was the price high enout,di to attract 
attention. In December, l'>ir), the farm price was, according to 
the report of the Department of Agriculture, 8ST cents. This is, 
of course, an average. .As a matter of fact some of the barley 
going to the .Milwaukee market brought over a dollar to the farm- 
ers. During 1917 barley prices were e.xtremely high, ranging 
from 87 cents t.i S1.20 per bushel.' During the first few months 
of 1918 barlev brought at local points over $2.(X^ a bushel. 

Exports. The amount of barley exported in normal years is 
not of great consequence. In 191(V1<)14 exports averaged less 
than 8.00(1,000 bushels. During the tir>t year of the war it 
reached 26,755.000 bu^liels. remained at abmit the same figure 
for the year following, and fell to 16.()00.lX)0 b iTiels for the year 

1916-17. 

P'ice and Bi(rk:i.'hrat 

Thoe need no dii^cussi. >!i >o far as extent of crop is concerned 
since neither covers a million acres. 

I'iitatoc.f 

The question of a sufficient crop of potatoes became a matter 
of State and natio.ial concern alnio-t as mhmi as war was de- 
clared. There are but few crop-- which > i.-ld as much food per 
acre as the potato. One special reason for a campaign to increase 
tlie planting of potatoes was the unprecedented price at which 
thev were selling during the -jiring of l'>17. .\ .Inllar a peck was 
the u-;ual iM-ice. Would i.irmers, >pecial potato gnwers, and 
tnwn people with gardens pl.mt seed worth <o high a figure? 
This wa< a pertinem question, It took from S30 to $40 worth. 
of -eed per acre. 

■ Monthly Crop Report. TlccciiiluT, \^\7 



I IIF. IMIEU STATKS 



41 



The rq,. its shuu that about the usual acreage was planted in 
the special di-tnct-, and that not less than 7UU,0(M) acres ai)uve 
normal were planted, altogether, aside from an unknown acreage 
in the unreported war gardens. The re()urted acreage for 1917 
\\a> 4,3<'0,O00 acres. In 1916, 3,565.0oO acres were reported. 
Coupled with thi> big acreage was a yield beyond normal. I'or 
some reason nut ea^y to e.\i)lain the price of potatoes ruled high 
throughout the fall. Uunng November the regular wholesale 
top price in Chicago was SI. 26 per bushel. 

With the closing in of winter weather, it became necessary to 
ship potatoes, if they were to be shijjped at all. in sjiecially pre- 
pared cars furnished with stoves. During the winter of 1917- 
18 such cars, or any cars, were very hard to get. 1 he results 
were high prices, a scarcity of potatoes, and consumption below 
normal throughout the winter months. When spring came, and 
V th it the possibility and the urgent necessity of mo\ing the pota- 
toes, it soon became evident that potatoes were overabundant, 
and the ]irice to the i).'>ducer at once began to decline. While 
the growers in the pot.ito vlislricts were ready to sell at 40 cents 
a bushel, consumers were paying 40 cents a peck a hundred or 
two hundred miles away. 

It was estimated that in the closing week r.f March. 191S, 
there were in the three States of Minnesota, Wiscon-iin and Mich- 
igan, a surplus of not less than 40,000,000 bushels of potatoes. 
Taking the country as a whole there were more potatoes tiian 
Could possii)Iy be disposed of before time for the new crop. .\t 
the same time, the Cf)nsuni])tion of potatoes was seriously cur- 
tailed iiy lack of transportation facilities and not all of them 
reached the consumers in time for consumption; many were fed 
to stock. The growers received less for a large portion of the 
crop of 1917 than it cost. The bLame is mainly on the lack of cars 
for shipping the potatoes. Xo one is personally to lilame. The 
farmers took their losses with varying degrees of e(|uanimity. 
The serious (|ucstion is; Ibiw long can they l>e induced to grow 
crops from a patri(jtic niotixe, at a financial los>;, while their 



M 



a -I 



42 



Kll'LCTri Ol- TllK WAR UrtiN AGKICI ' LTIKI-: 



iK-iulihor.-. ^TdW xiIkt crup;, uhicli M.'cin t.. \><J a> .i;r<.'aUy nwdvd 
and winch the market will take at a pRilii / 

I'utatues can lie u-ed to i educe greatly tlie c()n^nnlptlun ><i 
wheat. It i^ therefore cil ^reat con.-equence that the cr.'p he 
ample, in VJ\7. it seemed wise to urge fanners to plant a 
lar^e acreage since the high price of seed threatened to reduce it. 
(Jn the other hand the government was not m a position to take 
over the crop alter it was produced and many growers I'elt dis- 
appointed alter having followed the aihice given and tinding the 
re-ult apparently of no avail. However, the ijlaiitmg was about 
as heavv as e\er m VHS. and the chance for criticism greatly 
reduced since no \ery active campaign was carried on. It 
would seem wise for the government to de\(ite its main energies 
in the matter of stimulating pnjduction to tho^e prodticts which it 
can handle, such as tlie bread grains and meat.--. 

.\s the responsibility for feeding the world becomes more ap 
p.arent to food producers, should the war continue for sever.il 
years, there will be less disposition to complain should some 
crops, like the sujierabundant potatoes of 1*M7. seem to h.ive been 
produced to no purpo-e. (irnwing potatoes is a more hazardous 
busine-s than growing many other crops and those engaged in it 
expect tips and downs. The best policy to pursue is undoubtedly 
to urge production and then when a situation occurs such as that 
in the potato bu>ine-s of l'>17-18, to use the power of the govern- 
ment to help matters. This wps done to a considerable extent 
and helped very apprecialily. With better developed machinery 
for the work greater assistance could be gi\ '-n.' For the acreages 
and production since the beginning (^f the war, see Tables \ III 
and l.\. 



Brcuis 

I'.eans have long been gre;itlv in <lctiiand for feeding soldiers. 
In the spring of I''17 an appeal was made to the people to grow 
.-i big crop of beans. Seed wa- high ^ not far from $13 per 
bushel — liut even so a very greatly increased acreage was 

' Hk- aid K'ven by the St^itc is disMi-sccl ill the chapter on "Food C<.,itrol." 



•nil-: i'Niri:u sfATES 



43 



planted. In 1916, tluTc \>crc l,-'44,iiU() acres harvested ; in 1917, 
J.CL'S.OOO acre?. Many aero in 1917 were aliandimed. the 
planting having been nnich greater than the acre? harvested indi- 
cate. The productiun, moreover, was not increased as much as 
the acreage, the year 1917 being an unta\oral)le one for hcan 
yields. However there were 17,563.0tJO bushels reported, an 
increase oi' 56 per cent over tlie yield of 1916. I See '1 allies 
\'11I and IX. ) 

C(JTTON 

Xormaljy about 55 to 68 per cent of the world's cotton comes 
from the United States. Since 1914, the world supply is even 
more dependent on tiie United States on acci>unt of lessened jiro- 
duction in some of the other countries.' .\t the ontlireak ol the 
war the cotton market was suddenly demoralized; sliip[)ing was 
inadequate and unsafe: insurance rates were high: freight rates 
were iiigh: some ports were closed. It so hap[iened that the 
world was unusually well supplied with cotton when the war 
began, nearly e\ery cotton producing country in the world ha\ing 
harvested unusually liig crops in 19Li and again in 1914. 

77a' Crof^ of 1014 

The acreage of cotton in the L'nited States in 1913 was the 
greatest ever known, 37.0K9.900 acres The 1914 acreage was 
only slightly less, 36,S3J,aX) acres. The /i.ld per acre was 
greater in 1914, than for many }ears, — one of the greatest yieU's 
on record — with a resulting crop of 16,135.l»'H^ bales.- This 
was following a period of three years during which the average 
production was almost 14,090.000 bales. The aggregate amount 
of cotton produced in the United .States during the four years, 
\q\ 1_1<)14, was greater by 1 l,0t1(lO(X) bales than during the four 
years preceding. Thus there had been harvested an amount of 
cotton about equal to an additional year's crop during the tour 
years iust preceding the war. It h:id been predicted belorc the 

> Department of .VKriciiltiirf, rirciil.ir Xo. S.« " Tlie Aiirioultnral Oiit!nnl< 
for 1918: Cotton." 

■ .\ liale is roi-ls'iicii at .^nO pimnil^ in all govcrnmrnt c<;tini;Uo« unless otlier- 
\vi>c spei'itifij. 



I 



44 



EKKECTS OK 111 I-. W AK fl'nN ACKK ri.TTUi: 

■ iiilliicMico 111' Aiif^ust (K'cnrrcil. that price- \M.rc iKHind 



(li>tinl)ins. 

to l)C ll i\V. 

W'lu'ii war \\a> dciiarcd, il hecaniL' iiiuiK'iliatily c'viilrnt that 
the cotton market was iii a prcLarinii;- coiKhtioii. I he -i\ ci'uii- 
trics, Tireat lintaiii, l-'raiicc. Russia. (KTiiiaiiy. Aii-tria-l liiii,<;ary 
and P.olgiuin, usually take aixnit 50 to ()(' ])er cent of the Ameri- 
can cotton crop. \\ uh all of them iiuohed in the war it was a 
question whether or not they would take an\' considerable amount. 
Consternation and di-tnay spread over the southern State-. 
Their main dependence f^r income is C( ttou, Durini; the fall of 
l''i4, the price of citton fell from 14 cents to O cents a pound. 
The cost of oe-an freight rose to $1.J5 and S2 .50 a hundred 
pounds on haled cotton; insurance was correspon(lnii;ly hi.uh. 
The carrying trade, which had been almost .dtogether in foreign 
liands, was disorgani/ed. The demand on the part nf the bel- 
ligerent coimtries was immediately for wool and wnolens. I-or a 
short time it seemed as though itUerest in cotton and cotton goods 
had ciillap>ed.' The quantity of cotton ex[)orted during the four 
nii-)i;ths of Augn-t to Xnvember. inclusive, 1"14. was under one- 
third of the amount for the corresponding months of 1913. In 
the meantime, Congress was implored to come to the rescue. 
Bills were introduced providing for the advance of public money 
to the cotton growers. There were all niam.'.r of plans. It was 
proposed to rejieal the 10 per cent tax on the State issue of bank 
notes so that the State could issue notes and take care of the cot- 
ton.- .\nother ]ilan was for the government to issue emergency 
currency to be loaned to the cotton growers on coiUm warehouse 
certilicate- ' .Appeals were made to the Secretary of the Treas- 
ury to transfer the I'nited States deposits to the South and 
make them available for bank loans. There was the "buy a 
bale " campaign in which every citi/en was urged t<i buy a bale at 
10 cents a pound. Xot much came of these enterprises. 1 he 
most important relief measure w;is that whereby the regiinial 

' /e.TTCK' of t<i-zn,':vs. .s2 IW. " .\ War of Cotlciii an. I Other Southern 
Crops." Kdward Itijjle. 

■■^rntigrfssional Hecnrti. (>,i.! Com;. Z<\ ^('■^ . Anp.ii.lix, p. W'V,. 
■■' Ibid, p. 14,%2. 



nil-: rNiri:u siAiKr 



45 



banks were pcrinittt-il u> iIiscduiU paper imin Ineal national liaiik-. 
wliuli m turn had kiit UKiney on cotton \v,:ielioUse certil'icalo as 
securitv. It iiii,L;ht be interesting' to trace more in detail the work- 
ings of these relief measures, were it not 'I ai i''e solution of the 
cotton (litYiculties came from another (|ua"'er. '1 he markets were 
attain openeil, and iMtiim was in demand. 

"*.'.„ PRICES OF WOOL AND COTTON — UNITED STATES 



58 






















f 


-^ 


50 
40 


























4:; 

38 




















^ 


1 




30 
















^ 


^^ 


^ 




^ 


«v> 








^ 


-^ 


^ 


-^ 




J- 




f— 

/ 


-u 


IS 

u 


*00t„ — 

ccrrfoH 


^ 


, 






i ' 







/ 








10 

6 

o 






\_ 




'" 

















OS -, 



Chart II Ctitton tell abruptU ni prke at the uuthrtak of the war. The 
price, lamiarv 1, I'MS. u.i. ,<\vr four times as IiIkIi as the low point of 1^14. 
Wool also has risen to a ti^'iire four times that of November, 1914 

lietore the end of the fiscal year, 1914-13, the trade which had 
been so poor during;; the early months had recovered to such an 
extent that tiie total exports of American cotton were only 
712,0(X) ton^ short of the exportation of the precedino; year. 
The price had recovered to a great extent reaching 9 cents in May, 
l')15. it had been estimated that the South would lose $450,- 
0(X),0(1() on the l'>14 cotton crop. Later, it was conceded that 
the loss was not i ivcr $5i t,(W< i.OOO to $7.s,0(Xl,0(Hl' A few words 
from the Southern Riiralist ;ire typical : 

' /?(•■: iV;e' .'/ h'c-'iczis. 52:10<). The estimated value as made bv the Depart- 
ment nf .-VKrieulture was $591,0W.tK)0, whereas the value of the crop of 19'J 
was estimated at $8S5,OflO,tX)0. 



46 



KITKCTS or Till. WAK ll'iiN AC.KK TI. lUKK 



Our present fiioriitous crup icmM li.nc liniught only nioilerate prici-s even 
had no w.ir (RXiirreil to ilistvirb iiuliistrial business. Under the present con- 
ditions tlie crop n!n>t inevitahl> be si'lil at an .uiraKe price nitu'li below tbe 
actual cost of production — even should war cease beiore another crop is 
in.i.li- 

.\ iiuxleratc crop next year. ,sa> IJ.UOO.IHIO bale-., wouM coninuTciall) be 
e(iuua!i;iit to a ir.lKMI.oiK) bale crop bec.iuse of the adiled surplus frum this 
year. Tbe result wfulil inevitably be tile marketing of two consecutive 
Inimper crops — crops far in excess of the world's deinaiuls. Tin- would 
mean two consecuti\c years of cotton prices ruinously below tbe cost of 
^rowinn. It would mean the anncultural and hnancial rum of tbe .South 

These truths are so apparent tliat arKument is useless. We present them 
because tlieir reiteration at the beninuing of a new farm year m.iy strengtlien 
the conviction and stimulate tb» coiirase oi cotton ^rouers to do that which 
tlie cold logic of facts makes an imperatixe duty — radical cotton acreage 
reduction. 

This is no mere aeulcmic ((uestion. It is no yood fariuini; propatianda — 
important as that may be. It is no estensioti. demonstration, institute, di- 
versil'ication or I'tber farm uplift movement. It is no mere issue between 
good farm practice and poor farm practice. Our very agricultural and com- 
mercial c-xistence is at stake.' 



• Till- Crap (>/ Zy/5 

How did the appeal for fewer acres impress the cotton planter? 
-Apparently, for perhaps the second time in ten years, the doctrine 
of limitation of cnitput in the face of low prices had taken root. 
The other occa.sion was in 1905. when, following a period of un- 
usually low prices, and inuler the intliience of a wave of entlni- 
siasni enge'idered l)y the Farmers' Union, the acreaf^e was re- 
duced from .^0,000,0(10 acres in 1904 to 26.000.000 acres in l')05. 
I'he lessiiii was. liowcver, not Listint^ in its effects, for in 1906 
the acreatje was i,'reater than ever before 

it was predicted that the cotton acreaj.re of I'U.S would lie hut 
half or two-thirds as sjreat as ili.it of 1''14. The writers of the 
d.i\- advised that half the normal cotton acreage be planted to 
food crops.- .\fter all this, when the .\i,'rictiltural Department 
made iis istiiiiatc for the crop actually planied, it was evident that 
ilie atlvire had fallen on deaf ears. The actea.ije wa< indeed be- 
low that of the ])recedinj,' year, or of 1913, but the amount planted 

1 January t. IQIS. 

- Simtitcni Kuraiist. Tauuary I, 1015. 



Tin: INITEU SIATES 



47 



ill l'»13 ami 1914 was j^rently in excess of the norinal, Tlius 
while the acreaj^e of 1915 shnwed a reihictiim of 5,4iM),U<iO acre>, 
or 15 per I'eiit, as einiipareil wall that of r'14, it wa- but >eviii 
per cent under the avera!j;e for the preceding,' ten years, and 
Jiardh- iielow the ti};ure which had been considered normal pre- 
vious to l')]!. The failure to make the reduction in acreaj;e in 
accordance with the ad\ice was no douht due to the lack of infor- 
mation, the inertia and the difliculty of a chanj^e in methods, more 
than to foresight. Xevertheless the farmers on this occasion 
w ere ai)i)arently wiser than their teachers. The world wanteil the 
cotton and was willing' to pay for it. Lk'fore the 191.5 crop was 
harvested it was evident that the danger of a j^lut in the market 
was past, at least it was not imminent. The crop of 1915 was 
hardly equal to the average in yield per acre, and in the aggregate, 
11,192,000 hales, was about two-thirds as great as that of 1914. 
It happened that the other leading cotton producing countries 
had rather light crops in 1915. so the supply was not overabun- 
d mt. The price of .American cotton to the farmer from OctoI)er, 
1913, t'^ \ugust, 1916, during which time nearly all of the 1915 
crop was sold, ranged from 11 to 12 6 cents per pound. 



1^ 



The Crop of JO 1 6 

h was useless to ask the fanners to ])lant less cotton in 1*^16 
than had been ])lanted in 1915. \ot only was cotton selling for 
a fairly satisfactory price during the winter of 1915 and 1916 
and the spring following, but cottonseed prices were more than 
liftv per cent higher than for the preceding year. It was a fore- 
gone conclusion that the cotton farmer would plant cotton in 
abundance. The press did what it could to encourage diversifica- 
tion as did also the Department of .Agriculture.' The outcome 
was an inevitable incrense, though not enough to equal the very 
.great acreages of 101.^ and l'M4. The acreage harvested in 
1916 was 34.')S5.(H")0 acres, which yielded 156.6 pounds per acre, 
almost exactly throe-fourths as much as in I'M 4. The aggregate 

' The Progressive Farmer . Dcctmlcr 18. I'^lr. 



i! 



48 



EFFECTS OK TllK WAR miN A( ,1; li fl.TfRK 



a„,„nnt ..,- tlu- c-r,,i, w:.. 11,451) OQi^ l.ilc-. ur J3S,0On l,:il.. le.s 
than the crop ni the vi-ar lie lore. 

The iivera^je lanii price tor die !"14 cmp wa, 7 3 eent- a 
pMun.l; ' the Decen.her iinee ol the 1"1? or..p ua. ll.J ce.U>. of 
the 1''16 cmp 1"'.<) ceiitv- 

'Ihe exportatiMii. fnr the year eiuhn- June 30. l"'l/. were, as 
in the pre.e.hn- vear, ahmit tun-lhud^ a- Rreat as ju>t betore the 
uar, or >i.j.;htlv nmie than in 1"1(.. the amount lor l')l/ henig 
J 0>M (XK) ])ales. 'Ihe surplus which this light exi)ortatu>n wuuKl 
nnrn^ially have left was a^ain ahsorhed hy the American milU. 

77/.- Cn>p of 11)17 
Kittle was saiil abnut rcducin- the acreaj^e ol cnttnn in l^l". 
It was recog"'-'^''! ^'^''t admonitions wouM be wasted. '1 he acre- 
age harvested was just a httle I l,3.^1,Ut>U acres) below that ot 
1916. It mav be wondered why the acreage h.id not increased m 
view of the almost unprecedented pri.e of cotton, 'ihe auMver is 
tonnd in the prices of other products. Corn was high enough in 
price to tempt -ucces-fullv the southern farmer to grow it m 
quantities as never before. The cotton acreage harvested was 
33.r,.U.( »0i) acre.. This was U.VM.OX) acres or 3 8 per cent le>s 
than that of l')Ki. While this was not a great reductiMn in 
acreage it was verv different fn^m the record planting of 1"14. 
being'less by J.45.^.0O(^ acres. Foll.iwing their own in<lividnal 
judients it seems that the farmers raided abotu the i<le 1 amount 
of oitton. Certainlv not too much was pn.duced. '1 he yuTl tor 
l')17 wa- ir).'U'.).0O() bales. This was a little less per acre than 
wa. -r.wn in 1^16 and but three-fourths as much as in l'>14. 
In lo'ml amount it was but ^bghtlv more than two-thirds as tnuch 
c..tt,.n a- was grown in 1<>14, Possibly the low yield per acre 
was due in part to the lack of the usual commercial tertib/rr. .\t 
all events the cotton crop of 1"17 wa> the smallest in etght years, 
and the demand for it was unprcce.lenud in half a century. Ac- 
cording to an estimate of the Progrcsskr Fanner the world 

for 1918." 



1I11-: iNirKi) siATKS 49 

consumption of cot'on from the l)f};iiiniiit; of tlic war to Dccem- 
IxT, 191". was l,50(),it(M) halc-^ ni i-xcn-. of tlu' (jfodiiction. This 
excess \va^ made po-^ihle \>y tii siir) hi> of i)re\\ar scar--. There 
seemed no Hmit lo the prices wliicli mamifaclurers would pay. 
Tile farm price January 1, I'M", wa> 17.1 ceTits; on December 1, 
I'M", it was 27.7 cents, and ilie price "f spot cotton in New \'oii< 
City, April 4, I'MJS, wa:. 36 cents. Two ueeks Liter it was down 
to 30 cents. 

The exports for the current \ear (1'-)17-1S) have not Deen as 
hea\y as for precedinjj war years, hut ne\ertheless, there was a 
smaller (juantity of cotton on hand in Ma\, l'M8, than a year 
earlier.' Ocean freif^ht rates have reached fijjures which would 
seem under onlinary limes to 'le entirely prohibitive, but the pur- 
chasers on the other side of the water have no alternati\e and so 
pay them In .\pril, 1')1S. it was costinj^ $11 a huiulred jjonnds 
for Cotton transportation across the Atlantic - 

The ad\ ice ,i,'iven the cotton ()lanter in Deceinlier was to plant 
the usual amount of cotton ' .\fter the sharp decline in prices 
in .\[)ril, I'MX, there was a disposition to advise that less cotton 
and more food crops be planted. This was, howe\er, near the 
close of the cotton planting season.^ The planter had un(|nes- 
tioi;alilv followed his own inclinatinns to the full extent and ac- 
cording; to the cro]) report planted 3".073.(X)() acres. ^ 

SrMM.\RV OF rRINCIPAI, CuoTS 

The total acreai;e of the llfieeii princii)al crops of the United 
States fur the \ears indicated were as follows: 

]i)in 2<)(t.'U7.0()0 acres 

11)14 ,?1HI.85,?.(MK) ai-rus 

1<)IS ' 3l)').,U8.(K)(l acrfs 

\'t\fi ' .^lO.Wh.tXK) acres 

]yi7 3.'l,69,i.000 acres 

l<n8 350.88,i,00O acres 

'The visilile supplv on M.ay 17, l')18. was 4,118.000 bales; a year before it 
was A.imm) lialcs. 'rhiti's Rrrii-tf. Ma.\ 18, 1918. 
- ['r.'gressi: I- l-tirmcr. .\pril IJ, 1918 
'■Sniiilwrn Riinilisl, December 1, 1917. 
« /V.i^'r.-w.: .-. rar::,.-r. April 27. 1018. 
monthly Crop Report, June, 1018, 



•51 



4 






50 F.FKF.CTS (11- llir. WAK ri'ON ACUICfl.TrUK 

The increase ni ilu-.o >rM,.> ir..in T'lO tu I'M i was hm .V4 jier 
cent. I'nmi I'M ( |.. l'M7 the iiu re.i^e w.i- ''1 I'er cent, winle 
tniin V>\(> U> l'M7 .il.'nf it \\a> .^ .^ per cent, .t almost a- iiui>h a-, 
m lour years just iin-i to ilic war. 1 he I Uiiartnieiit oi .\j;ii- 
culture estiiuates that the t.'tal area in croji-, ui T'l.S is .^7 per 
cent greater than u: 1''17 ' Wliere dul thw increase oi ten to 
tiiteeii nnllinn acres come troiu:- It wonl.l In- a ditVicult t,i>l< to 
locate It. L'ndotihte.Uy it came (|uite lai->Iv from i)lo\vin- u]) 
pasiures, somewhat from the eroiJiiing of land which would nor- 
mally haw been left fallow. .\ little of it came from the natural 
CNpansioii into the reinaiuiui,' wild lauds. There i-, however, 
one uotueahle feature as to the expauMon. It was somewhat 
-'-.-tcr m the South than in the North. Tlic mcre.ise m the 
acrea-e of the fifteen croi)S above considered wa> greater in the 
South than in llu \orth. hut in addition to this f.ici there- were 
four minor crops n:it included in the list of fifteen —sweet pota- 
toes, peanuts, velvet l)eans auw kaftir corn, which showed an 
aggregate inciease of 4.S7('),<)00 acres in Vn7 over the I'Mf) 
tigures, 'I'.ius the South accounts for the larger pari of the 
total increased crop .acreage of the country. 

TAIU.r. V'!l 
Ckop .\.ke.\ce.s, 1915-1918 
1910-14 1915 1916 1917 V)\H- 

rnrn in'2.wnoo lo^.iw.nnrt io5.29ft.n(io ii9.775.ono ll,lH,;.^ooo 

Vvh, ,,. 48 9=;''(,(HI t,i 1,496.000 .s.'..n6.000 4.^941.00() s8.881.000 

1 " 4</i76'800 51,1<I8,IKH1 55.7J1,000 5.V516.0<10 69.5.'<1.000 

03„ SS'OU'IIOO 40.996,000 41..s.'7.00n 4.1.57.' OOO 44.474.0<V) 

,■,,,,„„■ ?S.?1(MK«! .M.41J0<10 .U.'1»,;,(K10 .IVM4 000 ,17.07.vOOO 

n'k- 7 5'.:ono 7.\A').(m 7.757.000 i<.?.y?.m) 9,i(w,ooo 

i.,,,.,,op, .V68-'ii>0 ,17.14.000 ,V.sf,= («iO 4,.l')0(Kin 4.11.10(10 

i.-i,. 2'40' '«! 1..187.(K10 1.474 '11 ISfflOWl '..967.000 

K.'e ; Z.WsJOO .1.120.000 .1.21.1. 4.102.000 r4.lM'!00 

Toliacco 1.2090IX) 1„170.000 1.41.1(H)0 1.446.600 1.4.s.l,000 

Hnck\vlie;it""!'. 826.200 769.000 828,000 1,006.000 1.040.(KV| 

Beans ■ ■ 1.244 000 2.028.000 1,(,2'>000 

Rice 71'606 80.1000 8f,'l,000 964.(XH) 1.120000 

'^iinar r.fcts 408 1" f,24 000 665 .(X)0 675.000 6'»0.(KK) 

Siipar Cane » . . . * 242.000 18.1.000 ■' 5.14.000 

Total 296,405,122 309..148,000 310,87.1.000 ,121.69.1.000 350.883,000 

1 IVerkly .Wtc.f r.rttcr. .-Xntai-t 7. I'M.s 

= Preliminary ficiircs. ■• Nver.it'c for 1911-1914. 

s For Louisiana ^For I'. .S. 






TlIK I MIKI) .>T.\1i:S 



51 






Ciirii — 

bushels . . 
Wheat — 

biiihi-U .. 
Oats — 

bushels .. 
Uarli y — 

bushels .. 
R>e- 

bushels . . 
Pot.ilocs — 

btishi'ls .. 
Fla\ — 

bushels .. 
TobacC'" — 

|)oiMuls .. 
Cotton - 

balls 



TAIil-i: I.\ 
P«ODUCTios OP Imiiwtant Cbops, 1915-1918 
I'Mii 14 1<>15 191'i 1''17 

2,7J-',457.<HK) J.iW4.7').'.'MK) J.56<>.''-'7.ikh) ,5,15''.4''4.ih)() 
7_'8.-'.'5.IWIO 1,().'?.801.IXHI (,.W..'1«,(MK) (o().8.'S,IKH) 
1.157.%1.IK)() 1.54'MI.?0.(MK) l.J.M.yi.'.IKKI l..W.-'.S'..IKK) 
18li,-'lr7.lilM .'.'SS.M.OOII lS.',ill'',IMKI jDS.'.r.i.lHM) 
37.5(i8,(IIK) 54.05(>.iK)O 4K,S(.J.illX) (ii),l45,iKM) 
.iOO.rrjJlii'i ,iVl.7_'l.iM) i86.95.i.000 44.'.5.to.(X)() 
18,.)JJ,WK) 14.UJ(),iXK) 14.J'"i,n(K) 8,47.lOiH) 

901,058400 l,(K)_',.'.(7.0O0 1.15.',-'78.l)0') l,l'".,4,M.ooil 



14,J5').(X)() 11,I').',(HH) 



Hay — 

ton<i 66,234,400 85.0.'0,(X»0 

Bmk wheat — 

b!l^llfU ... i7.(U.'.o<.)0 1 . i.o.=;f 1.000 

Beans — 

bushels 

Rve - 

bushels ... -'4.,178..'(X) :S,')47.O0O 
Beet Sii^ar — 
short tons, *i.il,5.t8 8;4.-'-'0 

' rrcliirinary estimate. 



11. 44'),' MO 
'>1,19J,000 
11,','._'.0(K) 
l.',0!<),0()0 
40,861.000 
8-'0,b-7 



lO.'M' 
7'),.^JH,000 
i;',4' .1)000 
17..-6.!iXtO 
.i6..'78,0O0 
80(1,600 



l')|8i 

_'..s8.'),000,OIK) 

yi7,o<io,o(X) 

l,5.!8,iK»i,iH)tJ 

J5(),IH»0,(H>i) 

7i..i)Oil.0*K) 

405.5(H),000 

l.s,7V.',0()0 

1.187.0(10,000 

1.1,00(I,()0<) 

I01,6UO,(K)0 

17,0(X),IX)O 

10.701.000 

4,1„?7.?.(XX) 



r.ABI.F. X 

I'M-ORIs ok GkMN A.Xll \'H.KT.\B1E PRODUCTS, lILs-lOlg 

( ^\■ars Fti'Ihik .Iinie .W) 
l')liU14 I'M.s I'Jlo l')17 1018 

Corn &■ ("orri Mi'al 

— |,„vhcU 41,40''.0<K) ,'llr.(,,s;o(KI .^0.8')7,000 f.o.75,i.OOO 48.484,000 

Wheat* llonr 

— bushels . . 104,O(,7 0(M) ,VU4o.s.00() .'4.\1 17,000 .W.156,000 l.i.',000.(X)0 

bushiO^ .., 7,80<-,,000 2h.7.s.s,000 27,47.1000 K,,.181,000 20,478,0(X) 
Oats \ ( l.iunoal 

^busbels .. O.O.sj.iKX) 1()0.600,(KX) 9S,%.i,000 9.s,10t),0(K) 125,.iCO,000 
Cotinn — 

Kilcs 4.420,(KI0 4,404.(KTO .1,084.000 3,0f/.V0O0 4.538.844 

Potatoes — 

),„.hi'is i,(',oo.i)iH) .n.isono 4oi,^.ivio 2.480000 .(,45,iom 

Rvo&- Rve Flour 

— bushels . S88,2(K) l.!,020.778 1.s,2.HV1.^0 1,V70.):'27 ls,7(.4,tiOO 
Tob.icco (unnitil ) 

— pounds , . .?iLMS.5.071 .U8..U0.001 44.V2^'.ll .s'. 41 l..s08.41'. 2S.-^, 7,-<l ..Ml 



52 EFFKCTS or TITK WAR ITOX ACKlCri.TrRE 

1910-14 rnS 1''16 1917 1918 



r.uckwlicat — 
bushclb .... 

bushels .... 
Rice — pounds. 
Siijiar (rctiiifd ) 

— poiimls . . 
Beans ami Peas 

— bushels . . 



32,0<J8 



41.lfi43 



51.\.i04 



2tmm 



5,5(j7 



Ssl R4,S 7j;,y83 5(M.7,?'i 4IW„50(I 5.M.'J96 

lH.4i('y,.i89 75,44f<.oJ5 120,t)y5,.'lJ 180,484,085 196,3t>3,208 

79,987.7'^7 S49,CK>7 411 l,b3(), 150.863 1,J48.84(),336 576,415,850 

3o2,.'30 1,214,28! I,7ou,o83 .',104,943 1.783,548 



CHAPTER III 
Live Stock: Production, Prices and Exports for 1914 to 1918 

Changes in the nuniher^ of h\ e stock arc not made as readily as 
changes in the acreages of cultivated crop-. There was, there- 
fore, natiirallv a slower response to the price stimulus in the case 
of live stock than in plant products. However, the prices of 
bread grains, if not indeed of all grains, '.as a tendency to out- 
run live stock prices in time of war. Such is the case now, and 
the farmers are aware of it. The prices of wheat, rye, corn, and 
oats are so high that farmers hesitate to go more extensively into 
live stock, thinking that there is more profit in selling grain than 
in feeding it. 'iliis tendency has been for the most p irt over- 
come 1)V the fixing of the hog-corn i)rice ratio, l-.y the lixing of 
milk prices, the virtu.il guar-ntee that heef prices will he steadied 
through government huyin^ ,md the regulation of wool jjiices.' 
\\ liv, it mav be asked, should it be necessary V' stabili.^e meat 

rices any more tlian to stabilize the prices of the corn, oat; and 
hav used in animal production? The answer to this is that the 
process of production in the case of animals is a much longer one 
than in the case of cr.ip ])roduction. The production of most 
animals not only requires a period of time running over several 
years, but it requires an in\estment which can not be shifted with- 
out considerable trouble and possible loss. -As a result the pro- 
ducers of live stock are more apprehensive concerning future 
prices than are the grain farmers. If they -^fart oi.t to produce 
cattle, or sheeji, for e\ani])!e, they can not abamlon th;it line as 
readilv as a wheat farmer can turn to something else, as barley 
and corn, and so divide his risks 

From the above argumen* •'. luight seem th.it under the cir- 
cumstances which the wp has brought about, stock raising 

' Discussed ill Chapter I\'. 



54 



r.i-ii:c 



Ts oi- Tin: WAR ri'ON .\r,iurri.Ti ke 



must (It ncci'->iiy decline. Thi-- i^ what h:\> hapi)cnc.l in <he 
(■ounirio nuire directly attecteii lliau a;e we 1>\ the uar. 1 here 
ha^ been a \ ery threat reduetiini m the li\e >t()ck ot" I-.urcpe. 
Since iiiure petiple can he >ni>iHiHeil by the direct method of tiMng 
the cereaK, than bv the nulirect method ol feeding the cereals 



lu >tock and then u-'in; 



the ?tock, It will no doubt continue to be 



the result that live >tock will be kept m fewer and fewer nuinliers 
in time.^ of sr.ch >tre». However, in spite oi' the logic the lact 
remains that up to the pre.-eiit there li.is been an increa.-e since the 
war liegan m the live -t>ick kept in the L'nited State>. (,)n the 
otlur hand theie lias not been enough, and ■- not enough, to sup- 
plv the needs of the Allies for animal products, and the (ptotion 
of need- >lu)ul(l, under the circumstam. s, he made paramount to 
the prolit- oi the individual. To keep the individual producer 
fairly well sati-t'ied and yet hold prices within reach of the con- 
sumer is the dift'icult task of a nation at war and this task involves 
more insight and foresight in the case of animals than of crops. 
The dit'ferent kinds of farm animals will be discu?>ed separately. 

HORSI.S 

Xuiiibcr. The number of horses continued its very slow rate 
of increase froin 1^14 to I^IS. a slight decrc; -c occurring for the 
one year. I'lir,. The increase from 21,10.=;.nnn in lOl.S to 21.- 
563,000 in 1''18 is but 1.7 per cent for the three years. This is 
less than a normal incrca-e in view of the probalile increase tak- 
ing place in the number of farms. It suggests that the very 
high price of feed has resulted in economy in the u-e of h<ir-es. 
i'ossibh- the farm tractor may be taking the place of :\ few more 
horses than ever before. The former is the more probable e\- 
])I,ination -o far as the country as a whole i- concerned, tndi- 
recilv the n-^e of motor trucks in the cities may. by making a les- 
sened demand for horses in the cities, reduce their numbers on 
farms. \t ;dl events the increase in the mmilicr of horses on 
farms was but one third as great from 1014 to 1018 as it had 
been from I'MO to 1014, a like period of time. 

Price. The prices of horses had not been such as to encoiiv- 



THE UNITEH STATES 



55 



age furtlier production. Tlie average \aliie of farm horses was 
at its niaxinuiin m T'll. SI 11.46. hi 1914 the average was 
.'?10''.3J. aiiil in 191() the low point ut $101. 6U was reaeheil. 
During the next Iwu year>, the price advanced a very little, stand- 
nig at SlUi.iiS on Janiiarv 1. l'^18. The aggregate \a1iie oi the 
hor>es of the country i> los hv $30,000,000 tiian in January, 
l'*14. This is in marked contrast with the f^reat advances in tlie 
values of meat anmiaU during the same period of time. 

ILvf^orts. I'he number oi horses exported in the three year> 
hefore the war averaged but J9,000 annually, an insignificant sub- 
traction from the sui)[)ly of the country. In 1915 and 1916. due 
to war leniands, tiie exportations were respectively 289,000 and 
358,CX)0. I-lven thoe numljers are not large. For the calendar 
year 1917 but 169,00() were shipjied out of the country. Thus 
the foreign demand is not enough to affect the market. 

Mcl.ES 

Xuiiibi'i' Tlie number oi mules increased somewhat more 
ra])idly than the laimber of horses during the four years from 
January 1, 1914, to January 1, 1918. In the former year there 
were 4.449.000: in the present year 4,824.000. a ditiference of 
.i75, 000 or 8.4 per cent. Thi- is not a great increase, but it is 
fairly in keeping with the increased acreage of crops in the south- 
ern States, the section in whicii most mules are found. 

Price. As in the case of horses the prices have not been such 
as to stimulate increased numbers. The average value, January, 
1914. wns $123 85 and was less than that amount for three suc- 
ceeding years, 'ising, however, to $128.74 in 1918. This is in 
marked contrast with the increase of 94.1 per cent in tlie value v)f 
crops from 1916 to 1918. During the same two years the price 
of mules increased 13 1 per cent or less than one-seventh as much 

Exf'orts. Mules were exported during the fir-t years of the 
war in considera!)Ie though not great number- I'efore the war 
the annual exportation> had been from four to six thousand. In 
the year ending June 30, 1915. 66,000 were shipped out o.' the 
countrv. The next vear 112.000 and in the calendar year of 



i 
iJl 



• ttf 



.' 1 



h 



56 



I'.'i; 



Kl-l-LClS UK Til!". W 



AK Ll'ON AGKU ri.TL'KE 



ri.UOO. Ill 



cx 



jKirtations 



hu\( 



■d[iyii 



rciith 



)t l)ecn 



mowA lo iucrt-a-f ,^i-c;'tl> ihc iirici;> 



Catilh 



A rather jirouounced chaivue 



has takfii pUuc in the cat 



tie In 



ness since 



ll 



lie war 



bcL'an. 



which had been ni pruf^re? 



The gradnal decrease m numbers 
s for some vears before the war 



change 



d to a gradual increase 



following 1"14. 



he tota 



,1 numl 



>er 



of cattle reported in l')14 was 56.?OJ,0O0. In I'MS it was 66.- 
830,000, an increase of 10,_'3.^,00.), or IS per cent. Whereas 
there were but ?6.5 head oi cattle per U»0 of population m 1.^4 
the proportion had .n:reased to 64.«) in VAX. The agricultural 
press was skeptical as to the reliabibtv of the government l.gures 
believing them to be altogether to, high,= However, the re- 
ceipts of cattle at the lea.ling stock markets oi the country ten.l 
to prove that the estimates were not far wrong, bor the hrst 
Irdf of the calendar vear lOlS, the receipts of cattle at the ten 
lea.hng markets was greater by r'»O.a)0 or 12.04 per cent t..an 
for the corresponding period a year earlier/^ 1 he mterct m 
the cattle business centers in two main clashes, cows and other 

cattle. . ,, . , •„ 

Coz.:s: The number of cows was >,;h-tantial!y at a stan<lstill 
from 1"10 lo M14. In I'TO the mimbc reported wa. 20.- 
6^=; 000 • in 1-»14 the estimate,! number was 20,773,000. Durmg 
the fcnir vears from l')14 to 1018 the number increased t. 2o,- 
'84 000 a gain of 1-' per cent. Th,s was a httle more rapid than 
the increa^e in population and raised the pn,port,on, from one cow 
t.j 3 people to one for each 4.4 people. 

It „ni4 be remembere.! th.ii a large part of the so-called n ilch 
cows are not strictlv dairy cows but are the general t;.rm cows 
kept fullv as much for beef production as tor milk. Hence the 
number of cows will ri^e in response to increased beet production 
almost as much as m rc^ion^e to increased dairy product,,.!. As 

. Ycorl'nnk; l)c,,.rtnu.,„ ..f Acri,ultnre, V>\<< ^^unhl^ Cr„p Rep-rt, F.'' 

>Livo Stock Report, (lay, Rolnns.m & Cu., l!..\ H. i i'' 




THE IMIKL) SIAIKS 

a matter of fact, the increase in the number of cows from 
to 1918 wa^ distinctly greater in the States in which cnw 
kept for general purpose-, than m those where dair, ing i 
pumarv i)urpose, sugge-tmg that the stimulu> ha^ heen r 
more for beef tiian for dairy production. 



57 

1914 
■; are 
s the 

ather 



DOLLARS 


PRICES OF 


MEAT 


ANi 


VIALS 


— UNITED 


STATES 




10 
15 
14 
























r^ 




















H 


' 


12 




















/ 






11 
10 




















/.. 


'■'X 




8 


HUOS 


k^ 


X/ 


\ 






/ 


^^ 




// 

-V 


^^. 


^-- 


c 


till ct 


TTLl 






S: 




"^ 


z::;:^ 








4 


— ■ 

SHtir 




"^ 


















1 












1 











^T A^- -* e— 

-3v J?- --• <?2 

Cliart HI. Tl)c prices ••! meat animals began their spectacular ribC in 19.6, 
and li.i\c readied unprecedented figures. 

The price of cows shows an almost uninterrupted increase from 
l'.*14 to 1918. During the preceding period of four years, I'MO 
to l')14, the increase in price was from $.^5.20 to .>5.""4, about 
.<li).00 per head. From 1914 to 1918 the price rose to $70.59. an 
increase of $16.65 or 30 per cent. Thi< is a small percentage as 
compared with the increase in the prices of cereals. 

The effect of the price of milk on the number of cows kept 
will be discussed in the section on " The Control "t Milk." 

Other Cattle. The term "other cattle" me.uis cattle other 
tlian cow- The number of these cattle had decrea-ed from 
41.178.0('>0 in l'''') to .V^^.SS.^lXIO in l'M4. the latter figure being 



I 



m 



58 



EKi't:ci> CM' Tin: wak iion ac'iUicui-tuki: 



tlu' Inuot in fiiKrn years. I'ollnu in- l'»14 a steady increase is 
repurted, Lrin^in;,' the nuiii!-er tn (o,54(..mi>0 in 1918. This rep- 
resent-- an increase within fnur year- nt _'l per cent. Thus the 
mcrea-e in nther catt!.' lias heen .-ince the war hegan distinctly 
};reater than the iiure.i-e in the mimlier (it oiws. The <:;rcatest 
increases in initnher- ni cither cattle liave heen in the corn belt — 
especially the portion we-l of the MisM>-ippi atid in Minnesota, 
South l):ikota, (alilcjrnia, Colorado and .Arizona. Losses in 
numbers occurred in Texas. 

The prices of other cattle increased over 5il per ccnt^ from 
1910 to l'il4. I"ro!ii 1''14 to I'MS the increase was from $31. K^ 
to $40, SS, or 31.3 lier cent. Tliis a<;ain is much below the aver- 
age increase in meat anima's for 1016 to I'MS. The increa:^e iii 
the latter wa- ''4'> per cent. '«r three times that of other cattle.' 
The number of cattle used for beef fell frotn about 13,270,^)1) 
in I'UO to 11,207,000 in 1914, a decline of 13.5 per cent. From 
1914 to 1917 there was a pronounced increase, 3.8 per cent, in 
the number of cattle used for beef. The number slaughtered in 
1917 wa. approximately 1.^498,t'HT). \'eal calves, not included 
m the beef cattle e.-timate showed a decline frotn 3,825,000 in 
1910 to 3,025,000 in 1914, a drop ..f 2t'.9 per cent. I'rom l'»14 
to 1917 the number of calves u-ed for veal rose to 4,666.000, 
an increase of 47.7 per cent. Taking intc^ account both beef cat- 
tle and calves it i-^ a clear ca-e that the nuantity of beef per capita 
took a distinct uiiwar.l turn about 1"14,- Thc^e figures com- 
pare very well with the e-timates of the numl'er of cattle made 
by the Department of .\griculture. 
' The increase in cattle prices noted d)ove corresponds very 
closely with the price changes in beef cattle. In 1914, the aver- 
age price was $6 24 per 100 p.nm.ls, in 1917 it was $8.14. Thus 
the increase was $1.90 per hundred pounds, or 30.5 per cent. It 
is h.nvever significant that the greater part of this inciease took 
place in the one year from 1916 to 1917, the 1"16 price averagmg 
$6.48. 

I Monthlv Crop Report, Febniarv, l'»l.^. 

.Tne Tu.inUr '.t caUlc u^c<! for Locf «a. ,-nn,pnto.l from T..h!o Xf. 



-T -- -T "T 
. X. -^ O ^ 



C^ (N O" 

m « 1^1 Cv 

I-N. CO f^l Ov 

oc *"' " '^ 



5 






O '^1 '*! 

^ S i' 



so 

'^j \n o^ 

a- "^ •^, 

irl o •-" 

OC 00 o 



o ^ 

-r — 

jc a- '^- 

»7^ w '"■- 

C^ O iC 

^' I ^i 
;4i' 



o 

I CO 

1^ n- ir; -T l>^ Ij. 

— _^ ^_ !>._ OC OC "^^ 

-T ■^' o" fjo ^- 2; 

rv| — I OC »^ "^i W 

O' 1—' '^* T- nO 



o -r cc «-^' o 
— x. -^^ ^ "^• 
cc -T vn ^ - 



,-. o 



< f^ "^1 



lo X r^ 

to Q- OO 
^. ^ '^1 

iV rg' r^i 

»o a^ OC 



ON 

■ ^. 

■- ON 



^ rv,' ^i ^' QC 1^. 

^^ rr. -T ? O O 



X 

< 



•^. £ ^ 



,o z "H Z^ 



so 



O OC 

OC '- 



t^ "^ s 






f^» 



='5 



■^ * ?, '0 z ~ 









^1 r^* '- £. 

r>. — ^ f-o f;^- "^ 

'^. ^ -'■. Q ON r; 

f^. t-^ o o^ •", ^. 

in' 'C 1-C '^i O-' "^l 

rvi -^ '^i O " • 

r^ o n-. OC 

!^ f^i \n o' 



1^' — ' ^' Cn' 



^ 



u-1 



i^ u-i rN. rs. in "^ t^ 

^ 1^ X 1^ -r >n "2 

^ t-t <^i -1- O Ln C^ f^, 

2 ^^ >n "-: ^1 'o p 

CN *" t ^" — ^ Vi 

t'* ■— ■ in On '^ 

9£ ":: n: s .^ ^ - 

^ f; !>.. .r, S OC. -. ^! 

o — ". I/-: — '1 >" 

tK '"J .-= — ^ "^ S 



s 



2 r i r t; « _ 

■^ rt « # £ c — 

U. !_/ !^ i/"j 1/J w <■ 

?<3 






60 



i;iiiai.-> ni- ii;i'; wak ri'nN .\(;i;i< ri.rruK 



lixl'iirts. 'I'lii' c\|iiirt^ ni" cattle ha\c \n.xn >'i little ci iii-ci|ii<.'iue 
lor a (.iiiisidciaijlc iiuini)i.r (il scar-. 1 he exports ot beet have, 
(.11 the Cdiitrary, been ni j,^reai and. reeeiitlx, merea.siiij; im]H»rt- 
a!K-e. Ill V>\7 liiit l.iJKH) cattle ueie eMimteil, less than a >i\th 
a- main- as the axefage annual nuiiilier Inr the period l''lit - 1')14. 
Tin- i> 111 niaiked eniitrast with the heel exiKirts wh.eh had aver- 



ai^eil 



_'_'0,U<-HX(HH) pounds dunnji; the li\e \ears helnre the uar 
and rti~e to 444.()0< »,000 pounds, or double the aniounl. in I'Mo. 
In I'UZ ivear eiidintr June 3n i the e\port> were 441 .»HX),(iMO 
ponnds, and lor I'M.S, 5UJ,U00,UUU pound., a gain of Ol.OOU.UtH) 
pound, or 13.'' per cent. 

Dairy Pkoul'cts 

With the exception of ehee-e tigures and more recently of those 
pertaining to condensed milk, the stati.tic^ of tlairy products 
have never been very satisfactory. Much milk goe. into chee>e 
and coiideii-ed milk, both of ulucli are made nearly altogether in 
factories. On the other hand, a much larger (piantity of milk 
IS u.ed ;is such, or made into butter. A great deal of the milk 
i. u-ed hv those who produce it, either .as milk, or a. butter or 
other products made from milk. We can do no better than to 
a.Mime that the milk ]iroduced, and therefore all dairy ])roducts 
in the riggregate. ha\e increased in about the >ame proportion in 
which the miniber of cows has incre.i-eil. b'or the purpose of 
this ,^i;uly the significance of the dair\ industrv hinges Largely on 
the exports of dairv products, and on the prod.iction of milk for 
cit\- use, these lieing the only respects in which the war has inllu- 
I'liced the business !,> .in\- \erc Lre.it extent. 1 hcse subjects will 
be disciis-eil lalir. 

I'ric-x In p.issing. it ma\- be well to note that the prices of 
dairx products had been very stable up to I'M 4. I'or examiile 
N'ew N'ork ('if l'.ii;h prices for butter, that is the highest prices 
]):iid. during tlie \ears from I'Mi^ to 1''14. in>-ltisi\e, were ,^5 
cents. .V) cents, 41 cents ;md 4-' cents. res|)ectively. The prices 
of milk had varied even less. The (hi. ago average yearly whole- 
sale price of milk from P'o'Mo l'»14 i,iii-ed from .SI. 23 t..Sl.,iO 



Till-; INITKU sr.\TK.s 



61 



per huiKlml pounds. Tlie tc-n,lciKy for milk prico to l.ccnie 
;uM remain cti>tnnuiry lia> been greatly ,li-,turl)f.l I'y llic uar. 

lixtort.^: Ihc rmlal Stalo had n^l bclore ibc war, been a 
^'reat expnrter of dairy products at any tune, uith the exeepti.-n 
r,l consuleralile eNportati<.n> of chee-e from hS77 to l.Sf<h. 15e- 
K'inninK with 1"14 the exportation of dairy products increased 
Tn-eatly though no -reat (piantities were exported ui butter nr 
chee>e-. Condensed milk, on the contrary, has become an import- 
ant article of export. 



Cfvrs 
pen potjlD 



PRICES OF BUTTER, EGGS AND CHEESE-U.S. 




I. 



Chart IV. ^rk■c^; of l>ntHT. c«c;- .ind cbcc-c •showed but littlr upward 
tiMiiluncy until Uil- i.iU of I'lln. 

P.utter. The amount of butter exported liefore the war, 1<M0 
to l')14, was annualh-. on an average 4,27S.OO(^ jKninds. This 
(|iiantitv rose at once to <).,S5 1.000 pounds in 1<H3, and to 26.- 
S.i3,000 pound- in l'U7. Durin.c; the first two mniiths ..f 1<)1,S 
there was. however, iiut 15.S'»1,(X)0 pounds sold abroad, ''.'his 
faUinfi off was due in some measure to lack of shippin.i: facilities. 
.\fter all. the-e expnrtatioiis are very small in view of the anmunt 
made annnally. 

Cheese. In 1S77 td ISSl. cheese was exported to the extent of 
13O.O00,(MY) pound- .innually. h'n-ni l''l(i to l'M4 the annual e\- 



i'L 
' '-'I 



62 nnrcTS cf tiii; war fvos A(-.Ricfi ttre 

|..irts ".vcre hut 4. ''15, 000 pounds nn an a\t'ra^'i' During; tlic 
I'irst three \tarN ot the war, the expcirt^ were re>i)ectively. 55,- 
I '00.000. 44,0(>O,(HK) aiKl 66,OtKlO()() ixmiid';. I )iirin,- the first 
ten iiidiiths of the year 1''17-1>S there were hut J1.<KX1.0<>() pouiuls 
^cild outside the cuuiitry. The great lal'iii;^ otf was no douljt 
(Uie to the food re},'uhitii>n in (ireat Ihit.aiii. a low price ha\ing 
l)eeii set on cheese. However, more has heen goiii.L: ahroad ihu"- 
ing the spring months of 1*'1.S. 9.4''1.(KH) pounds of the 21.- 
(H»0.00o having heen shipped in the month of April In Octoher, 
1**17, the amount vi cheese in storage was a matter of great con- 
cern. In July. l')18, till.' hulk of the surplus was gone In the 
former month the amount in storage was '^J,500.(JOO ])ounds; in 
the latter month 38.0(/0.(XX) pounds.' 

Condensed Milk. Condensed milk had attracted little atten- 
tion as an export heiore the war. The sacrificing of the luiro- 
pean dairy hcds. together with the availahility of condensed milk 
as food for soldiers created an unprecedented demand, [•'rom 
I'MO to 1014, we exported about l(),O00.0(H) pounds annually. 
The exports for the ne.xt four yeais were as follows: 

191.S .ir..\lV6_'7 pomids 

V)](> IS'A.v/.d.'it pniMiils 

1';17 259.10().(H)() iiomiils 

1VI8 5.?0.(X)O.0tK) pouiKls 

During the winter of I'M" and lOlS. condensed milk was 
stored in great quantities and many plants closed down because of 
inability to sell the jiroduct. I'.y .\ugu-t 1. I'MX, the surplus 
had been about all (li-j>osed of, the jjrice |ier c;!-.> was $1 10 higher 
at the factorv than in June, two months before, and the demand 
in excess of the supj>ly.^ The amoiuit of condensed milk ex- 
ported is about equal to 1 ..iJ5.0(X).0('K') of whole milk, an amount 
which could be made into approximately 45.000.0(H) pounds of 
butter, or nearly three times as much as the amount of Innter ex- 
j)orted during the tlrs! ten moiitlis of the last fisc.d year Made 
into chee-e the nii'k used for exjiort condensed milk would have 

- Ibid. 



'm 



THE l'NHi:i> STATKS 



63 



made approximate! v 132.000,(h(ii imiuikI-. it twite a^ iiukIi a^ tlic 
chce- • expt)rt'> in I'M". 

Hor.s 

Xiiinbcr. As noted in Chapter I, the nimil-r of Iuh!^ in t!'e 
countrv in 1914 was sniallf^ in proportion to p'ip"l'i''"" 'l^'" "^ 
luanv vears preceding. In I'l? there was a decided increa-.e in 
the h ^i 1 siness, the nninl>er rising from 5iS,<)33.(K)0 of the pre- 
c-diiig year to M.t)lS,(XK). A further incia-.' followed during 
the next three ^ear- the nnnil>er reiHivii-.l lu 1'>1S heing 71,- 
3"4,(X)(). ■ his i- :i C( nsideialile gain in proportion to ])■ pulation. 
In 1<)14. there were rV hogs per lUO jieople, and in V' X. aUnit 
69, a s fficient in rea<e to give evidence of aliund. nee if pork 
products were it not lor the unprecedented (!«'niand for them 
across the Atlantic. The above comparisons are based on the 
estimates made by the Dep.irtmcnt of .Xi^riculti ' ■. We liave few- 
other data from wiiich to judge. Whether we have such a grati- 
fying increase in the liog pop ilatioii or not is at least open to 
serious question. The estimate- made by ;iie Department in the 
past h ive not t. 'lied with the census t'giires in such a manner as 
to allav all suspicion as to reliability, 'here had l)een a disposi- 
tion on the part of some of the ngncnltural papc- interested 
])ri:iiarilv in live stock to thr-w I'luch doiT't o\<r the published 
ngures.' However, as in tli ca- of cattle, the reports >oming 
from the .stock vards of the (.mimi corrolx.rate the e-timates of 
the Department very -trongly and tli support the contention 
that the estimates are niiich more accurate now than formerly. 
During the six months ending June -W. 1')1S, the receipts of hogs 
at the ten leidincr markets w is greater by 4(S4,IH)0 < •- .^.44 per 
cent than for the corre-^pondi-ig months a year earlier, while for 
April. 1"1S, alone, tlie receipts were 61.s,000 or 33 per cent 
greater than in \pril, I'MT). 

Prices. The prices oi hogs were similar in their movements 
to those of grain. I'he gradual increase which ha<l been taking 
plac for several years prior to an. including 1914, suffered a 

1 Walla ''s iarmcr, !-\-liniary _j, W.?,. 



J-i?i 



M 



(<\ 



.1 1 l.CTS OK 111! \\ ^H I l'"N \i.l;iri I IIKK 



sctli.uk Ml l'»15 I lie- lii,L;lic-t pruc^ of 1i",l;>' m Cliica^o m 
l'M4 ua- .SI" -'!'; in I'M?, SS'»3 In I'Mo, ,i di-tiiKt aiivaiuc in 
price occuni'il, llic I'liKa^o lii^urc ic.uliui^; $11. N). '1 lie diiial 
of tlii> had liccii kiiKun luit once -nice tlic (.iul War. yet within 
a leu iiiMntii-, cm Aii-n-t Jl. 1"17, fulldwm^' ihe ciitraiue of 
the I lilted States into the world war. hd^^ reached the reeurd 
,.rue of S_'""" |)er hundred.- .\^'aiii, in August. I'US. they 
Weill ,i!'o\e the --'nDil mark, lieiii- on several ditferent days pre- 
eedinj^ \ii}^vi-~t 15. a- lii-h a> SJO 15 jier huiidied. 

Siii;i.i' 

Xiinihrr .1)1 l-dniis The luiniher of sheep, which had heen 
ill i;eiieral declining cilice I'HX). c intiinieil in the -ante direction 
iint:l T'lr. alter which there wa> a very >li-ht increa-e ,i> re- 
ported in lanii.iry. I'MS. .\t the heKinniiif; of the w.ir tiieic were 
4'l.71'».(X*n^heeI, ill the riii.ed States, in 1')1S. 4S.'KXU)<>| >. Hie 
I'M.^ ti-iire is 27 per cent ahove that of 1''17, lnit tlie iiure,i-e is 
h.irdlv i;rea* eiinii-li to he called slL^nilicant. 

I'liii-s. In \,iUie ^hee]> >ho\v a reniarkaMe increa-e. the a\er- 
at;e value per hea.' ' niiij,' heen rep<irte.l at $4 04. in l'M4 ,ind at 
SU SJ in rns I Ills H an iiurea-e of I'L'd per cent in tmir 
vears. Xo other live -toik made an atlv.uice in price at all 
comparahle with this. yet. e\ en s.i, the ntiniher oi >lieep laiK !■) 
increa-e 

.SVi.v/- III Olhi-r Ct.inil'-lrs. 'llie decrea-e in the mimher I'f 
sherji 1- liy 11- mean- confined to the rniied State-. In -eneral 
tlure ha- I'cen for -nine vear- a decline- .M-roAer. where there 
are mcrea-e- the\ iln tii.I -n.L^-e-t keepinj; up with the demand on 
the old hasis. hut onlv a p.irti.il meetmj: of the re(|uireinent-. 
Shee]) have been pvimanlv a pi' nicer ]in:duct. and with the di-aji- 
pcarance of tiiuch of the raiiL^e land the nuniher ol -lieej) has 
declined. 

11. i.'/. (7 Military Wwssity. With the dtithre.ak of war. the 
w.H.l -ituati'.n became -eriou-. The world supplv nf woo! had 

'"Mive.I an.! Tackcrs " Vcarhn.^h. nepartnicnt "f .-\priciil'i._re. Vni>. 
•-Live Stock Report, Clay. RohiiiMm & C^ . OertniluT 27. ft* 



TilF. I'MTKI) STATES 



63 



l,t-n l(ir voiiiL- vfir^ .|.h liiiin;' ri-l.iti\cly [n i-'pulatiMii. 'I he re- 
fills nt thi> ilciliiif were rclU'cU'il iii iii.L;hL-i price- < \ wo.il and 
wiiolcii K""''n and the undcncy to ii-c -ul)>ntutt-< ' '1 hi- seri- 
ousness I'l tlic wcHil Minati'iii -iv III- -i-i-n in tl-: dciicndi-ncc nt the 
ariiu iipnii wudl as the he-t : n- rial tnr iluthin^ and blankets 
The equipiiunt nf each man in the Uritish army require^ J.S 
linimd-, (I I ciimces n! udhI. The AnurKan soldier needs no 
le>-. 1 liiis ',.r an army ■■! a imlliuii men over ten \)vr cent dI 
the annual d.ine-lic v..->l clip will l>e needed tor the lir-t outfit. '•' 
l-(ir an armv ol live mdlioii men halt of the anr.iial production 
would he needed ior one complete outtit. 

I'rodiuti.ni and Importation of Wool. In the mea..tinie each 
year >liow> a decrease .n unol production of the I'nited States 
below that of the -ear hef.ire Itoni I'llO i,) 1>M7, although since 
l')14 the decrease has not been ^-reat, about 4.50<l,iH K i pomxK for 
the three years. The amount oi' wool produceil i:' countru-, out- 
side the C'eiit.al Powers has undergone but little change since the 
war lie^ran. .\t the ,>anie time, the Central Powers are unable to 
make their u-uai importation-, aniountiiv^ to about hall a bil- 
lion pounds per year. This leaves more than the usual supply 
for the Allies. The importations into the L'nited State- have 
been heavier than ever before. .\t the be,i,'inninj4 of the war, the 
imp.irts were at rather a low ebb though not -o hiW as lor -.e^er.d 
different vears -mce I'KX). The amount imported in 1"'14 was 
J4,s.( K H ).0(K) iioiin.U; m l'M6 ,t riwe to 5.^5.1 X^O.iHXi pound-; m 
1<)17 it drojiped back to .^7_'.(H'i i.mOO pound-, but for the fi .^t 
eiRht month- of the tl-c.il year be;;mninK July 1. 1''17, the impor- 
tations were 21 .s.( iO(),0()0 iiounds, which is more than the u-u.il 
amount lor a whole year during the pa-t two decades. The 
amount imported in l'»i7 was -reater than was ever known before 
the war. 

Price of Wool. While the prices of sheep advanced !'»_' 6 
per cent within four years, .'is noted above, the price of wool ad- 
vanced durin- the -,ime time UiS.J per cent, or from 17.6 cent- to 

•Cl.aniher of CoMinK-rce ..1 the U. S. .\l'rU -'". I"1.S llMllct.n. N..l,..nal 
- llic pr.Hlucti..ii in 19l() was 288,i>C0,UO(J pouiui-. ni 191/, 2S3.(X)0.000. 



66 



Ki-FECTS or Tin; war vvos AC.kuui.rrRK 



47.2 per pountl. These figures liardly tell the story since they 
are based on yearly averages. The price at the end of the 
vear 191" was 58. J cents per pound or more than three times 
as high as at any time during the .irst six months of the war. 
These exorbitant price.s have imluced the government to take 
the matter in hand and l"i.\ a limit to the price., to he paid for 
\. ^ol as for various other products. The question of control is 
noticed liriefly in Chapter \'. 



T.XBLF. XII 
Proihition a.nd Importation of Wool, 1914-1917 
pjscal Production, Importation. Exportation, 

vear pounds pounds pounds 

lo'iUH J%,17.i.()00 247.649.000 l.U.'.OOO 

in ills J90 192 1«0 .««.08.1000 7,260.00) 

\l\L\(, ; . 288,777.(KH) 534.828.000 1.804.000 

9 6-7 ... 288,408,000 372,372.000 3,979,000 

IpItIiS : ; : : 285,573.00(J 2' 5,000,(X)0 

1 For eight months. 

T.ABl.K XIII 
Live Stock on 1- arms, 1915-1918- 

IQIS 1()10 l'^17 1918 

Hnrspci 21i')=i000 21.15').(K!0 21.210.lX)0 21,.^63.000 

{\ZJ 4479:000 4..W,000 4.72,i.OO0 4.824 (V>0 

Ah Cows'" 21202 000 22.1U8.IM10 22.8'M.OOO 23.284,000 

( ,her Ca tk- ! ! ! '. ! ! .' 37;067 (K..0 ,^..81 ?.000 41 ,689,0(X) |]. ?■»<;■; J ' 

S rcn "-•'""■ 4'),'>.5f,.0<1O 48,62?.00(1 47.oU,.000 •"^■'^"', •''« 

Swine ".'.'.'.'. '. '.'■"' 64,1.18.000 (.7,7M..(ino (,7.W.m / 1.374,000 
M"igiircs from the iehrnary numbers of the Monthly Crop Report. 



THE LNHEU STATES 6' 
TABLE XIV 
Exports uf Animals ami Ammai. Pkodl\t>, 191+-1918 

vv lyiu-u y-ns mb m? wis 

nttle 87.6J5 5,484 J1,J87 lJ..i«7 18.iU 

lltrs's M.m .W,J4U o.S7,553 -'78,074 S4,/0p 

Vu,,r 5 1-'5 05,78« 111,-V15 130,089 JS.S/> 

S,^',^, ::•. l.U.oul 47,.'U 5J,J78 58,75.' WJ 

,,*'■' 21)223:121 o8J.5,iJ.U55 444,u53,JJ5 411,4:3,025 .-U2.0W,U"U 

P ' k ^ :403833.153 004,027,520 y;8,uy4,3fc0 l,037,140oo4 ^ 1,3U4,UW,UU< 

La-d .■.:■.;.... 545.783,274 501,552,902 401,437,928 4O2,335,/80 -iy".' ^''''f,^ 

^r ■■•:::: '^^ ^^ ^■""" -« , St 

S^ ^":':^ u:lS S:15^ --- ;TI i 

Condensed M.ikl5;773:9S5 J7;235:o27 159,577,o20 259,102,213 52V,750.U32 

1 Beef = Canned, cured, fre-ih, oleomargarine, oleo oil and tallow — increase 
partinilarlv in canned and iresli. 

2 Pork =: Canned, cured, fresh. 

3 Including lard. 



t 



CHAPTER IV 
Federal and State Aid in Production and Marketing ' 

rKOUrCTKJ.N 

Since the L'nited States has suh.sta.itially always licen a country 
of sur])Uis UMiil prudiiLtiun, the governnienl has nut felt the neces- 
sitv of usini; extreme nieaMi.es in its stimulation. Nevertheless, 
sofar as production is concerned, the government has in an edu- 
cational way done very much to put ajjriculture or, a solid basis 
and at the -ame time stimulate its pn.ijre.v. The value of this 
work is clcarlv hrou<;ht out in the recent events in connect im with 
the efforts to eiicourai;e a^'ricultural i)ioduction during the vears 
of the war. It has been comparatively easy to turn the machin- 
crv I ■' the I)ep..rtment of .\j;riculture to the work of >timulating 
the ami)unt of farm produce. This is being done even to the ex- 
tent of encoura.i,Mni; iiroduction through exhortation and demon- 
stration, without nnich rej;ard to soil conservation. War i^ a 
time of destruction: of u-ing lavishly the goods at hand with 
little thought as to whether or not there will he amjilc supi'.ly in 
the future The (|ue-tions re(|uiring immediate attention arc of 
greater consequence than tho^e more remote. 

The ])roblems of j.roduction and con>crv,ition arc perhaps 
equallv important in the realization of re-iilt- for a gi\cn year. 
.At Ic.i-t thcv are both of primary importance. War wa- de- 
clared iMi .April f). ,-Mid ' became evident to the rresident au.l his 
adviser^ that food wa- dc-tincd to he needed in much move ih.m 
ordmarv (|uantities within the year following Mihough agri- 
cultural ojierations were well along, -o far a> plans and planting 

1 Much mforniMtioii nseil in writiiii; this ch.ipter is in thf fnrm I'f letters 
and nnsccllaneou>^ pulilications fn.ni State C.-uncils of Defense an.l otlu-r imb- 
lic (iflici.ils. 



TllK UNITED MATES 



69 



for 1917 were concerned, it wa> n.)t aho-ether too late to ai.ike at 
lea.t M.uie iniiH.rtant .nu(litkau>m> of thcni. The Secretary ol 
A.rvK.hure called v. tncet.nj; in St. Lou... ' for April '» and 10. 
uiUv three .hu> alter uar wa> declared. Thirty-two States xxere 
represented hv Mxtv-live .^It.cial. It was decided to divide the 
uork of stimulating pnxluctiun and ,,ronK,ting economy into tour 
nip.in divi.-ioiis as follows: 

1. Production and labor. 

2. Distribution and prices. 

3. Ec(jnomy and utilization. 

4. Effective ori;anization. 

It was pointed out that the world shortage of food was so clearly 
a fact as to make it dcMrable, and at the same time undoubtedly 
profitable to the .American farmers to bring the products .n ot 
all foodstuff ui. t.. a maximum, l-.specially should bread grams 
be increased. The cultivated area should be extende<l wherevet" 
practicable. Likewise meat production shc.uld be expande.l, and 
'milk production increased if po-~ible one-fourth. 

T, carry out the program of production w.mld clearly call tor 
an unusual amount of farm labo'-. U was urged that the gov- 
ernment take steps to enhst " in a national service " ot tood pro- 
duction, men above militarv age. men unable to enter the army 
on account of physical defects, an.l boys of 15 to 19 years of 

'""^Tn order to make known the resources of the cf -'.■nry with 
respect to food supplies, a survey was recommended. It was 
-c'cn<rni/ed that a disturbance of prices was likely to take place 
,,ul with a view to holding uich movement within b..unds. price 
pubbcnv was recommended. Moreover, it was suggeste.l that 
vhile price fixing was not likely to be necessary tor a tune, the 
..overnmcnt should be prepared to fix maximum or minimum 
prices even to luiv and store food commodities diould occasion 
arise. The occasiV.i would pr..l)ab!y be the manipulation ot prices 
l,y speculators or restraints of trade by dealers. 

'. A sini.Iar conference «a. Iicl.l ..t Horkcley, California, on the !,^th of 
\inl 



70 



Kirn 1.1 111 iiiK u.\i< ii'iiN .\(,KU i.i.nki-: 



C'lincfi nin^ ])n>-il)lc ci-onnniy on the part "i tlic jii' jik'. it was 
>tat(-il that 1S,U<HM'00 l)arrcl,> ni ihniv iiii'^ht he -avud h\ iiuttin.i;- 
SI per lent ui^teail ol 73 per et-iit ni the kernel ' f \\he:it iiili> 
Ihnir. l-"nnlieniiiire. that le>s meat and im-re ve^etalile-- init;ht 
well he niehhlcl in the diet. That milk mi'^hi he u-ed to a },Mealcr 
extent. That -iniple yram products, in->tead of the more relmed 
eommereial luodiut- mi-iit advanta^eon^ly he u-ed. A wnlc- 
.-pread iin.pa.uanda for '^i'niui; the-e views before the jicoplc wa. 

ur^a-d. 

Siiue It was clearly necessary for the Deiiartinent ot .\,i;neul- 
tnre to ,lo more than its n^nal dntie^ in l.rint;ini,' ahout unusual 
results in the nature n\ increased product, it wa> nccessar> that 
.added authority and also added funds be .^ranted the Department. 

Oroaiiicitioii for thr Iiurcasc of AtiricuUunil I'rodiuls 
licpn-Himil of Anrkulturc. j-ollowin^' the declaration of 
war, the food production .[uestion was at once broni;hi to the 
attention of C/oiij^re-s and an act jKissed directed almost exclu- 
sively to the Department of .\i;ricu!ture with a view to increasing' 
the supplies. This was the los^ical way to ^'^'t at the (|uestu.ns 
Mine It had Ion- been tlie business of the Department of Ai;ri- 
cuhure to increase production. Ihe Department has a force of 
nianv thousand employes, j;ivinj: their time to experimentation, 
d.emoustrations, and eilucation connected with problems of pro- 
duction. In recent years attention has been ^dven to the market- 
ing' of farm produce. Thus the Dep.irttnent was well e(iuipped 
for the work of furtherin- the iiroduction to meet the war euier- 
oeiicv in th.at ail expansion of work already in hand was about all 
that was called for, not somethini; forei^'n to previous eftorts. 
The le-islation p^o^idin.^ for the stimulation of production fol- 
lowed primarily the sug^'cstions made by the Secretary of .\^'ri- 
culture an.l hi- ad.viscrs at the St. I.ouis conference. The act 
as passe.l was entitled . •' .\n act to provide further for the na- 
tional seciritv .nul defense bv stimulating aRriculture and tacih- 



tating the distribution of .iijncuiiural pro' 



lucts 



It was ap 



THE iNirn- -r.MES 



71 



proved on August 10, 1917. Hie ■lani import of the act is 
>iiiiimari/'-il 1j\ tnc LVpaniiR'Ht i A-i iculf.irc a-. ini!,)w>; 

Ek..n tiiilliu:i llircc lmi,..r.a aiiJ luit>Mx -ujaiul iuur liuii.lrnl dnllars 
to be u>^<l in iimulatiiig proJiKtion, fur prott< ting and oncers nr^ io.xl>. 
ami for a survey of 'he covintr\s food resources. 

S'atT of county nents to be increased until at least one aRtiit will l>e st.i- 
tioned in practicalK ever) asritnltur.i! county m the Limed States, lii.it will 
cooperate with the UepartiiKiit and the State agricultural coIUkc. 

Wonii county agents for demonstration vrk in hcuu- ecunomics to lie 
increased in rur.il counties and su.nlar agents to be placed m towns and cuie-. 
for the lir--t tin 

Farn'-help ser\Ke to be eNt.iidc-l ui .K.peiatinu with l nilcl States De- 
partment ot Labor to assi>t in hriiigmg iariucrs and farm lah.inrs togctlKr. 
Country-wide survey to be made o>' food on farms, in stora^'c, m shop- aird 
ir homes. Lstimate consumpti n of fooil to be iii.uh- 

Kxten ion of crop estimating to crops not hitherto reported and M include 
special impiiries to gather information on e.xtraorduiary farm coii<litioiis. 
Hog and poultry production to he stimulated as far is practicable. 
Increased production and conservation of dairv foods to he encouraged. 
.■\ninial diseases to be combated on larger scale. 

Increased efforts to be m.idc to combat insect pests of plants and animals. 
Further steps to be taken to destroy animal pest* and predaMry animals 
which injure c-ops anil kill live slock. 

Work for the control of plant diseases to he extended. 
Survey of seed supplies and needs to I made an^! results published so that 
farmers will be assisted in obtaining a sulTicient supply of good seed. Seed 
to be purcliased and sold to farmers by the Department if necessary in re- 
stricted areas. . 

Dcmonstr. tions to he carried out m the proper h.indluig. p.icking. shipping, 
and marketing of pen-hahle Iv lits and vegetables to decrea-e spoilage. 

News service for various farm products to be extended ? that pmdi.cers 
and consumers can be better informed as to the supply an,l .'eman,! and can 
sell and buy with loss expense less sr ilage. and le-s lo>t motion.' 

The Department "1 Auriciilture had by tm means waited the 
Slimmer throuiih to make a start in the encmiraireiiient of a(l(le<l 
food pnxhiction. Already oomtnittee^ liad heen apfointed to 
draft resohition-; on the various important hues of proeeduve. 
'\'h\< was done at the St. 1.- v cnnfetence, and while for .:.e 
most iiart the residtiti-tis wetv diteetcd to the President and 
Con.tjress. the Deparimeiit of As^ricnltnrc wis able to do a threat 
deal without further authority or funds. It urfjeil farmers to 



1 nv.-Cv W-.cs I.,-ii.'\ .\ugu.-t 



101.^ 



72 



Ll 



ItCiS OV lllE WAR Ll'U.N Ai.KUl l.llUK 



L-ciallv wheat. 'Hi. it tluTc 



was a 



cxtciul the acrca^'-' I't cereals, espe 
CuiiMil-jralne re-i-Miise t(i the api-eal eaii ii"t lie douhteil. Wnrk 
was he-un on ilie (luestion ul tariii lalmr, and l.y no nie.ms le.isi. 
the catnpaign lor greater eci.noiny in the u-e of I.hhU uas 

launi'heil. 

Ihe work uf tlie Department of A.^^riculture is highly central- 
ized. The authority for all prnject-. and for the most jiart. the 
direction of them, is m Washm.^tm,. Thi- facthlends very 
well with the i)ro<,'rani of enier-en.y food i)roduction. hor m- 
stance. there i-> not likely V develop a -reat deal of friction be- 
tween the people concerned and th.-e (hrectin.i; the pn.gram. 
A^ a matter of fact, there is not much antliority rnoKed m the 
pro-ram: it is rather one of exhortation, encniragenient and as- 
sistance, dhis 1- in cnntra-^t with the I'ood .Xdmnn-tration cre- 
ated to carry .mt the mandates of the |-'nod A.hmmstration Act. 
which hear> the same date a> the I'.n.d rrodncti^n Act. In iivn- 
eral the I'ood .Xdminisiraticiii is, as will he -houn later, a deceii- 
trah/ed organi/ation. 

The Deiiartment of Agricalture is always in close touch with 
the agrl-ultural colleges. The colle.i^es were represented lihcr- 
ally m the cniiieia.nces held at St. Lnui- and Berkeley. So close 
was the cooiieration of the Uepartinent with the colUue-' that 
it 's iii-.posMlile to separate the intluence- oi the two. Ihe col- 
leges in nianv ca-e~ toi.k the siiir.^t-tions i.f the Departineiit of 
A},'riculture and -pread them broadcast over the re-]iective States. 
A"-ain there w.i^ clo-e harmony hetween the Hoards ot Ai,n-i- 
cnlture of the dilYereilt State- and the I'mted Slate- Deiiartment 
of Aj.,M-iculture. -\11 '<i tlie-e agencies united in urging the tann- 
ers to produce to the utmost, while farmers and city j)eo|ile alike 
were urgeil to couserxe and s;u e to the last degree cousi-lcnt 
with et'licielicy ;ind hcittli. 

touiuils o{ IK-jrnsc. .^ ntcd.itiiig ;he jia-age of the 1-ood 

Production .\ct, was the cre.atioTi nf the Xati Mial rounci! of Pe- 

fen-e. This was done in .\n-iist, l'»16.' It was the primary 

pu'-po-e of the act to get -onie degree ''i m.Tility iiilo the army. 

1 Liiiii.l .-uilis ."-lii'uti^ at I.ari,--. .59.050. 



THE IMTKI) STATKS 



73 



ml it \sa- al^o dt-si.u'iK' 



til aid in the pnnluctinii ( 



if whatever e- 



seiiDab iiii'Mi 



t lie needed duini'' the interruinmn ol l"rei-n enin- 



nieree. 



he C'ciuiK'il i\a> to <:• '\t 



-i>l lit tlie SeiTetarie- 



\ 



\ ar. 



.\ 



:i\ \ 



Interidr. Altu'ii 



llure, Cuinnierce and I,ah<^r, tof^ether 



seven advisers. 



Not much was 



heard fmni this LouiiLd su lar 



a^ i)r<Hhictu)n of ft" id was concerned 



No 



sooner was war tlecia 



red than the State le^nslatures ti 



d created State 



action with respect to the (hities of the Stale- 
Coinicils of Defense, or sinidar Ixnhes. in all States.' 1 hesc 
State Councils have worked with the Department of Agriculture 
in promoting- food production, acting in many particulars as a 
clearing house for tnith Stat^' and national effort. Plans have 
been made by the Department of Agriculture and carried out l.y 
the State Councils of Defen.se. Un the other hand, many proh- 
Icms have been Largely local anddiave been handle.! altogether by 
the State organizations. The duncil ot Defense system has 
been extended to include in the great majority of the ci'Uiuies of 
the Cnited State>. county councils, and below these in increasing 
numbers of States and counties, township (."ouncils of Defense. 
In si-\cral States, p.articularly where agriculture is not the domi- 
nant business. mmiicip;il Councils of Defense are organized. 
This plan is followed in Massachusetts and New jersey. 

The main lines of agricultural work undertaken by the t'oitn- 
'•ils ,11 Defense have been the stimulation of the iiroducti- 'ii of 
such things as are needed in greater (luantities th;m normal pro- 
duction will siipplv. The stimulation h:is been of t'lree general 
kinds. I'ir-t. an apiie.al to farmers t,, do their best in increasing 
production, and particularly in increasing the production of com- 
modities most in cded. Second, .•issi.t.ance .itTered in the nature 
of uiformaiion concerning farm help, seed, or other tilings re- 
(luired. In cases of extreme need not only is informalion fur- 
nished but the Council acts as .a go-between in securing such .-oni- 
modities as seeds, buying in di-tant markets and selling to the 
fariuers at cost; machinery has been furnished and financial aid 

1 In s.i.c States ,lie roiincil of Dcfi-iT:e was nrRani/t 1 in a.lvaiu-c of leeis- 
lative enactnu'iit. ly executive authority. ,-. .c. tins wa. tlio la^c m t tah. 



74 



EFFECTS or Tin. \SAU llnN A( IKKT 1. 1 TKI'. 



V'ivrii. Tliinl. cloudy .illu'il tn tlK-.f :ii'l- ni pnuliutu'ii tlicy un- 
.liTIako tn t'aolitatc tlu; >alo nl ,i;'mu1. pr. i.lnci'il. 

7/i.- SliiirildHi'ii oj rr'H'.Uithin 
In ilu- llrst i>I.u-c. llic iiKr<'a-i.Hl prices wen- .i f^reat ^liimilus to 
l.rndncti.in at ilie time the Initeil States entered the NNar. Hence 
^\hateve^ ha^ taken jilaee liy .vay oi merea-ed imnluetiun in I'MT 
ami I'MS, i> the reMihant nt two force-, price stinnilu-, an.l 
Vatrinti-in l,hl^ State eH.Tt. Ih.u nnuh is t„ he attnhnled to 
llie one an.l how nnuh to the nther in in n;.-t instances, past hnd- 
in- "V.I. Hoth h.i\e luen Mroni;Iy inihient;al. 

'Ihe \\'<\'\< >'t nicreasinf,' af,'ricnltnral pnxhiction has centered 
very lar-ely in the C'onncils ..t DelVn-e, nn accumt of the anthor- 
ity given t'he-e ImhIics, ahhnu-h a- Mated ali(i\e. a lar,L;e nnnil.er 
of ageiicie- h.ive had a |)art. and .'lien the Miperior part in carry- 
ing ont the i)lans. The extent \n wlncli acreage- have heen m- 
crea-ed has already Keen di-cn-ed. The most langihle resnlts 
haveconie fn>ni ihe wheat, p.'iato, and " war garden " porti.ms ..i 
the program. l.d<ewise it is a clear case th.at hog pmdnction has 
lieen directly slinnilated. < Uhcr p,.Mlncts have heen more or less 
inlhicnced witlmnt a d.-nht, hnt it i- al-o trne that the greater 
jiart 111 the land now in nse wonld have continned lo pn.dnce some 
n.selnl croj) had no effort heen made to stinunate or inllnenc ■ the 
farmers. The elVor'.s of the Counci' >< Defet.s,-, nci.,-irtmetn ot 
Agrienlti'.re. and .illied orginn/atimis ha\e heen directed manil\ m 
the line nf encmnagement ihrongli appea's to patriotism and ■elf- 
interest; g.iihenng of inf. irm.itioii ;is a ha-'s of the organization 
of chihs. mainly nniniig hoy- and girl-; a-si-tance in procuring 
seed, a-i-tance witn re-pert to lalmr, and in some in-laiices l-..ii- 
trol I if lalmr pi ices. In a -m.aller nninher of c;i-e- help oi a 
linaiual n.iliire ha- heen -i\eii in the form of ioans ; m.ielnnery. 
such as tractor-, have heen made av.ailah'e; and assistance in tind- 
ing. leaching, and even ereaiing markets lias heen attorded. 
Thc-e -nliiects will he di-ciis-ed m order. 

I'iitn.itisin aiul Sclf-iittcrcsl. 'Ihi- cmipaigii \v;is hegnn at 
once, and i- -uU in progress. Fanner- are urged throngh almo-t 



THE UNITKU STATIC 



/> 



,u„.,l.rlcss posters, newspaper., Inc nnnntc spcccli.. .n.l 1h. Ic- 
„„. t,, ,.r..hu-c cvcrv posMl4c a.nnunt o, .n.nl. It ,. ^hnwn that 
,lK\lla-s arc .Iq.ctulcnt ..p"» An.orKa for ln.,.l. au.l t ,a: vMih- 
oiit sut^kient t,n„l tlK- war nu,-t ,,I lU'cc.Mty W- L.^t. 1 Ik- cltc-a 
„nv he in dnuht as to the t..tal ad.htinn made hy th.. n,ean>, hut 
at '.11 events there has heen a K'cat change n. the particular pn.d- 
ua> inu^t needed, sueh as uheat and meat, and m a Mualler way. 
in con.len>ed nnlk and cheese, and poia'.ue.. In the hrst tw- 
,,ro.h,cts the increase was induced I., a ^reat extent hy a guaran- 
teed price, uhilc n, the uther ca>es no -uaranleo were "'''*1.^'- 

Lalhrruni lnjornuU,on It ua> evtdent ui the >pri..^' ot 1 )17 
that tlie information availahle on the siihject ot mod supp.ies, and 
.-..ai.-ultural operations, in the production of foo.l were altogether 
„K..le,|uate. It was ma.le.|uate hecau>e it left the MiK-t.on ot the 
amonnts on han.l unanswered. Therefore, the <p,.mt,t,es to he 
spared for the Allies were unkn..wn. The amounts nee.l.'d lor 
home use were likewise not accuratelv known. W e had -o lon^' 
heen a nation of surplus mtterial tha^ to calculate the needs on a 
narrow margin was an aUosri't'if 'i'^^^' '■'~"'^'' 

Several States, notahlv \ew York, took a vc rv complete ac;n- 
cnltnral ce,i^us in the spring of 1017. This particular census was 
of "rcat use in the settlement of snch contnners,e< as that ot 
milk prices which was an acute question almost throut;h..ut the 
ve-.r \ fo<xl survey was taken as of .\ugnst 1, 1^1/ . tor the 
onintrv hy the Dep^'-tmcnt of Agriculture; a second survey uas 
made during the winter. 

r,v the spring of I^IS, the taking of agricultural censuses was 
the re'n,l,-u- order <f the <lav. The Bureau of Crop h'.stimates 
strengthen, d its work greatly hv getting a very large uumher — 
sevc^l thousand per State --of exact reports fn.m larmers as a 



speci 



d 



ciieck on the usual estimates sent in hv the reporters, 
censuses of sce.l stock were taken on a large seale. and an ..rder 
^vas issue.l requiring all d'-;,!ers who handle five thousan<l or more 
pounds of farm seeds annnallv to report to the Bureau ot > ar- 
Lets the .,uantitie. on hand.' Another special census take,, 

^OfUcial lUtiUtin. JuiK- 12. WIS. 






76 



i,i!i.(i.. Ill 1111. w \i; ri'nN Ai.iJii ri.ri i;i; 



lliri)iif,'h ti'ikTal aiiili 'iiiv u:i^ nt tlii.' Lilmr ^upiily. ■^l^-^ w.i^ liy 
no iiicaii^ ,111 a^ru'.ilmi.il iikm-uu' cmIu-ivi'Iv, Imt aj;iicului.c 
( aiiic 111 inr It- -ban.- i ii i.i iii-nki atn iii w illi ii'-iR-et to llic um.' tn lie 
iiKulf III laliiii, >^.inf 111 llic lii'-t lc--iiii^ m the matter i>t iiitm- 
jiiatioii L;athiTiii>; ate gained tinin the (.■xpeneiu'e ot Muli St.ile- 
a.-. Siitilh I'ak'^ia ami ( iklahuina. In Si. nth Dakotii a!l thrc-lu-:- 
iiieii are ri'inireil to lepoit liie aninunt'- ot ^;ram thre-heil hy 1 'e- 
ceiiiher lii-t. I hi- will he, it [iri i|ierl\' Jidiiiini^tered. the itin-t 
.iimratc .ue. miiliii.t; e\er m.nle ot the aiiiouiit ot' .L;rai;i thrown in 
a State 

ill ( )klah.'i la tlu' a->ev-or> a> a p.atrii.- r -erviee, withnut aiMi- 
liiitl.il ii:i_\. 'j.atheie'l nilorniatu m mi the arn-a^'i.- ot the 1"'1S 
erop-: the aniouiu of >eeil \\hi>h eaeh t',iMiier wonld need to liny; 
thv ainonnt eiieh wonld li.ive Inr >ale; the hreedim^ stoek on hand; 
the aimuint ot" lah' ir whieh \\a- likelv to he needed in additmn 
tn tlie in.'it;lil;orhood --n|)iil\-. 

The-e eeii-nse- h.ive in.ale it i).i--ilile to iimeeed with a dei^iee 
(it nitelli.uenee in the di-ti ilnitii m ot" e--etitial need- lie_\ond :niy- 
thni^ ever helnre known. It did :iway with sjiei illation, and nh- 
vi.ited real >liorI.ii;e- .at erilKal time- in ino-t in-t,mees, and 
allowed opportunity for snh-titntion when- there \\,i- no uther 
alteni;iti\e. 

I Ih- (Uuiaitizalioti cf Clubs. The plan of n-int,' the elnh idea 
111 the eiieonra^'emeiit of heitur methods of production ha> heeii 
in u-e for vear- : hnt the e\i,L;eniie< of t'u' war have t,M\en it i 
new iiii])etu-. r.eforc the w;ir the iiumher of inemhers reported 
in hoys' and i^irU' elnh- of all M.rt< - eorn. jiij,'. calf, .•aniiini,' 
elul)-. and the like - w:is k--- th.ni 'Kid.dOO. Dnrin- l'M7 the 
nnniher reached was J,4(Xt.()>M\' 1 he inereaNe in ciui) work in 
Wi-ci'iiMn is indicate. I hy the enrollment of h.OX) hoys and ^drls 
in l'»Ui. and .^_',(K)0 in l'M7. 

kepiirt- are ohtained. so I'ar as po-si1,k-, from the various cluhs. 
Of llie tiital numher, J.4i>0.l)()t t. for the coimtry, 3.si).(tO(.) made 
reports -liowini; that they had prodnced and conserved SIO,- 
OOO.'iOi'i worth of food. Tins i- an avera.tje of S_'S.57 wortii of 



HIE I NITF.n STATES 



„„„1 for c:uh nuT'Lcr. I'n.l,;iMv tho.f rcp-rtm',- ,l..l not pro- 
duce V. ..nah .,n an ;urr.>^c-, Imt cxc, thon^;h thn^c not rq.urt- 
inu nro.hice.l Uux :<10(H) uo,,li tuh, ,t uouUl amount n, thr 
aeerUatc to over SJO,.KK),()(K), making $3(M>M).'>U}. lo, the cu- 
"tire UK-n.l.r.ln,,. TL- s,j;,ntkancc of lln. uotk l.c^ lar^rdv n, . 
„,, ,-,,, Uui n>o^t o, ,t upu-.m. lahor uhul. ....uM ..,luru,.e 
,„„ luNc liccn ut,li/ol at all lulls . nu.ch oi ,t Ikm:-. ihcr.tMrc. 
almost clear •^ain. . 

(•,u,.,/v .l./.-K/.v ."„/ lirlr.sunt ilorkrrs. 1 ho nun,l-cr- ot 
conntv a^TKultural a;,cnl-, ha,l l.c.n ,.n the mcca.e l". souk- 
vears.' in lanuarv. I'M/. ju>t pno, . the entrance ot the L nue.l 
'mate. int,."the xvar, there were l.-'H. county agents uni.loye.l 
i;v lulv I'MS, this nu.nUT hi.l i;rown to J.IJ". an mcrease ot 
:,,..;, .:„natelv 73 ,.er cent. There are t.ot quite 3..X10 counttes 
in the L-nited' States, hence there are nearlv ihree-lourths ot the.n 
prnvt.led NVtth auents. and ^nce nianv conntie. have altnost no 
a^^nculture it nieatts that ticarly all a^ricuhnral counties have such 

''"in ad.l.tion to tlic muntv agricultural a'^cnt. are other exten- 
sion workers such a. h..nie demonstration a-ems. and ciuh or.^an- 
izers The ureal maiontv nt these people are .l.itti,' some sort ot 
war emer^encv ^^ork. All connte.l, the number ot ^xtensmn 
workers on July 1. 1"1S. was <,,U/0 an mcrease ot over 4.0()U 
doinj,' -uch work on the -anie ilate in I'M". 

Not onlv have the numl ers of comity agents increased greatly, 
hut at the same time their .hutes have increase.l very much. 
•Ihey have been of ureal u^e in a wide variety of ways, promineijt 
among which are the help ^iven i.i hn.lins ^nitahle tarm seed; 
treating the ^eed uratti f-.r the prevention of .lisease; the purchase 
an.l sale of live stock; cooperative huvin- of feeds - m short 
thev have helpe.l to do anvthm^ that could U- done through group 
effort or State aul. Al.ove all thev have been effective in creat- 
ing a spirit of patriotism among the farmers, helping them to 

.Depannum nf \,ric-,ltnre. I.i^t of Worker, in Subjects Pertaining to 
.•\nriciiltiire. I'M" 
Ml't-.-i'/v Xr.rs /.,-».T. July 3, 1Q18. 



US 
ft" 



MICROCOPY R€SOLUIION TES' CHART 

(ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 2i 



1.0 1-ia m 



I.I 



tii 



[16 

IjiO 



[2.5 
[1 2.2 
12.0 



1.8 



1.2.5 



1.^ 



1.6 



APPLIED IN/MGE Inc 

-3Ch»5ter. ^eM York 1*609 CiA 

'16) 482 - OJOO - Phone 



78 



i:n-'i;cT.s nr riii; u ak rruN a(,i<ii ri.i cue 



i 



realize tliat the res])()iisil)ility of feeding iln' Allic- i> ii' it a mat- 
ter (if empty \Miri's, Imt a duty. 

iiii: criiiiiiiil Aiil in rrociiniii/ .' :,l. 'u ycar^ pa-t tlie seetl 
que>tiuii has in very few in^taiKe> lieeii acute, and ha^, iherefnre, 
not required Slate aid or attention. During; the .'-prniL; of I'.'l" 
o\\ nig to some iin]iortant chan;;es m iroj) plaii'; niaile after o])era- 
tions were well under way, it ua- not in all ea.-es ea>v to get the 
recjuired seed pronintiy. This was the ea-e with respect to wheat, 
and potatoes particularly. The dilficulties in 1''17 \\cie hardly 
more than enough to attract altentior:, and li\- that means ]irepare 
for the situation which tle\elope(l in I'MS. During the spring 
of 1917, seed potatoes were miusually scarce and dear, and Slate 
and county to)unci!s of nefense and allied organizations aided 
greatly in effecting an eqiiitalile distrihulinn of them, at the same 
time holding the price down. For instance in Wisconsin the 
State lioard of Agriculture hought potatoes, sliipped them to 
places where they were w anted, and sold them at $3 00 per bushel, 
whereas the trade price at the s.mie time was freiiuentlv .'^4.00. 

'1 he great (luestion in 1"1S was seed corn, and to a much less 
serious extent sce<I wheat, ;ind seeds for some <if the minor crops. 
The corn crop of l')17 v,.-is the poorc-t on record so far as ma- 
turity is concerned with the resiilt that seed corn was extrenielv 
scarce. In .all the northern States aid of s, uue kind in procuring 
seed corn was the usual thing. Several States, for example, 
Kansas and Massachusetts, took sur\evs of all seed stock. 
( >ther States t'-ok more or less complete censuses, largeK' through 
the county aL;ents. In |iiu;i ;i seed C' >rn census \v;is taken he 
school district census takers speci.illv .appninted. Seed was 
hought liy man}' States and resold nt cost for cash This was 
done fi r example in Michig.an, Xehra-l:.! .and Wisconsin Tn 
MichiL;;in seed coin was hought to the extent of S.M^.iiOO worth. 
In I't.ah the State went still further, sellii,- its seed, f. t the most 
]iart sct'd wheat, hnwexer, on time, taking crup murtga.ues as 
secuntw Soiuli l)akol,a, while nm re]iorting the proiluction of 
seed stands nut :is one "f the leading Slate- in cnntri >lling the siiu- 
;ilion. It w.as provided hy action of the I'nuncil "f Heieii-e that 



rfi 



Till" IMTKl) SIATF.S 



79 



no seed corn should be sold with a gc.nination test bclnw G? per 
cent, and furthciiiuire prices were prescribed, averagin;.; Mnin 
$4.00 to $10.00 a bu.^liel, with heavy i)enaltie- pnnided fur h:<;her 
charges. In Indiana the county agents ditl must of the work in 
finding seed corn for tliose in need of it, and through their intlu- 
ence. and the general sentiinent develnped in regard to the mat- 
ter, the price was held down to about $3.00 per bushel. In mo^t 
Slates prices ranged from $5.CX) to $10.00 a bushel with occa- 
sional instances of $J0.O0. Without the machinery provided by 
the war emergency bodies, the price of seed corn woulil liave 
been left to private initiative for the most part with the result that 
it would liave l)een by no means so intelligently distributed over 
the country while the price left to speculation would, with<nit 
doubt, have been higher on an average. As .t is. the full acre- 
age of corn was planted and the seed used was well ui) to the 
usual standard in quality. This gratifying result wa- due in no 
small mca.surc to the unusual care with which seed was tested. 
In Indiana, for instance, the county agents report that tested 
seed has given about fifteen per cent iK'tter germination results 
than that untested, or careles-ly tested. 

In the Food Production .\ct passed by Congress, in August, 
1917. provision was made for the use of $2,5lKl.(X)0 as an emer- 
gencv seed fund. The occasion for aid from the government 
for the vear 1'''17 was mainlv past by the time the bill became 
a law. In March, lf>18, in a deficiency act, the approjiriation for 
seed >vas increased to $ri,3(XI,000. This was passed March JO, 
about the time corn planting in the southern States begins, and 
when the farmers of the corn belt are anxious to kn^w where 
their seed is to come from. The result was that not a great deal 
of federal aid was available in jiroviding the bulk of the corn for 
planting. One thing the nepnrtment of Agriculture was able to 
do, however, was to n^scmbk- seed corn at several strategic poiiit> 
for distribution for late planting and replanting. Thc'^e ])lan< 
were completed at a meeting in Chicago on M.iy I-l 1"1S.' 
Nothing couid better illu-trate the wisdom of this safeguard than 

' ir.-x-l!y X<"vs Letter. June 15, I'^IS 



\i 






li 



80 



i:i i'i:',"i'.s (IF iiu: w \k iimin aci^u i'i.tihk 



the >ituatniii idlliiwiiiL,' the s(.-\ cre irM^i in Indiana on June 22. 
I'liu Lcini 111 iiiaii\ uM~ ua^ kilk-d. \lth nrj^U it wa^ lato it \va> 
not cuHMdercd ahogcihcr t-u !atr t. > pi..:;'. 'Hi-day corn. The 
Mi])i)ly 1)1 >\\d\ ?ced turn at I'urdue L'liivcr.-ity wa^, immediately 
put to ii^e.' 

ll'iir (ni:,lciis. Tlic campaign for more f,'ardcns \va> pm mi 
early, tliat i> to .-ay, alnio>t iniiiiediately after war \va- d.erlared. 
in e\er\ Lily and village of any >i/x peopk- were ur^ed t<i I'laiit 
more gardens and bigger gardens. A Xatioiial Mme'-gency Food 
Garden Comini~-ion was appointed which undertook to system- 
atize the work and m;ike the ;ippe,ai geiier.il and pointed. I he 
pre-ideiu of tins eomniis;-ion estimated that the value of the gar- 
den produce raised on huid where nothing of the kind grew before 
was $350,00(.>.OliO. . ni> would mean about .^.'^ .^i ' I'cr capita 
'1 he gardens were trebled in area, and the veget.ible- ;ind fruit 
pre-erved for winter u-e e-tiuiated at three times the u-iial 
amount. 'Ker a million acres of citv lot land wa- in garden-, 
— the lar;;e-t ji.irt of which was not previou-ly tilled- As to 
the increa-e in the number of garden- in I'M", it ha- been t-n- 
niated at i. 000,000,-' Reports from State C(.uiicil- of l)efeti-e 
indicate ih.it the I'MS gardens are more extensive and more pro- 



(lueti\e til, 111 tho 



if I'M 



I'nusn! I. and 



The use of a million acres of land, largely unused previously, 
for war ganleiis .shows th.at there has been, and no doubt still is, 
a coii-iderable amount ^'i land either uiiu-cd or u-ed for a rela- 
ti\elv unimportant jmrpo.^e. Many \acant lot- ^reported as un- 
n-ed have furnished something in the way of jiroduce before. 
I'or examjjle, manv of them ha\e jirodiiced h;iv. '1 he need of a 
gre.iter food sUjipU ha- brought the o'd i|ue-tion of lami held 

1 Ituhana Bulletin (State Council of IVfcii'C^, .liil.c 5. I'^l.^^ 

- ,\niials of the .NiiierKaii .\cailiiiiy of I'.ilitical and Social Scriicc. Novem- 
ber, 1V17. p. -'<U. . , ,. . , ^ 

1 C. R. Nan Hi-c: C^nt-irr: al'wn tvul /\',--»/.i/ir'i( ni //(,• ( iii/of SlJlcs lUirmi 
the li'orld /I'ar, p 41, . 

*Reiiorteil in correspond! nee, Minnesota and Oklalunna esiieci:'!!; repurt 
increased interest in war gardens. 






I iii: rxnr.i) stath.s 



81 



out Mt u,-,c \<> ilic Kiic. Ill .Minnesota the (.'(ltllnlis^ion •>{ VuhWc 
Safety was a.-^ked to iii\ oke the rij;ht oi eminent doniani, which it 
ha^ ihe pnwer u, do. ni order to brni.i; vacant city and farm 
land nito u-e. The (.om-.m^-ion doe> not see the necessity of 
doinj; so, suice it has not icund it (hlticnlt to set sufticient 
citv kind for gardens, and has not foiind farm hmd lield out 
of Use. Should occasion arise, the L'oinmission stands ready to 

act. 

The question of unused lands has received more attention in 
California than an_\ where else so far as can Ix; judged by the 
available information. The estimate had been made in W ash- 
<ni;ton that Uiere were two and a half million acres of unused 
tillable land in California. The secretary of the Comnnttee on 
Food Production of the Commonwealth Club of Califijrma re- 
ported that there was 700,000 acres which should be cultivateil 
hut could not be under the circumstances An investis;ation into 
the same subiect bv I'rofessor Shaw of the Cniversity of Cali- 
fornia was made, and through newspaper iniblicity, some 72.0(iO 
acres of land were located, .\bont one-lhird of this land was 
found to be available tor use and was rented later. .Miout 
300,000 acres of other land were reported by county agents, hor- 
ticultural commissioners, and the like. On inquiry it was found 
that this land was being used in many cases for pasture or hay, 
and that the most of it was deficient in rainfall, alkaline, or in 
some cases too tar from tran-portation facilities to be economic- 
all v available ' 

Thus the bug-a-boo of land held out of use by speculators ap- 
pears less formidable than many have been led to believe. 

Fann l.abrr 

On the question of farm labor there is a great dearth of infor- 
mation. There are according to the estimates of the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture about 14.0m.00il men engaged in agricul- 
ture. Oi these JO. ,^00, or alnnit 1.48 per cent, had been drafted 
before March 6, l')l,S. 

I Tran.'iacticiris of tlie ("otnMi<Mn\e;ilth Club uf C.\lif(iriii.i, .\i)ril. 1913. 



82 



i:iii;cTs (ir iiii; uak ii'ux agkiculi l'i;k 



In ail'iiti' n to tlicsc tlnrc havt- liccii volnritiers. ami the fariiKr-, liaM' lost 
a coiibiiJcralilc miiiilur of lahorors tiicause tlie wascs paid in industrial pur- 
suits drew tliem away. In order to relieve the lanninj! i.idiistry as far as 
possible from furllii-r drains of labor the new draft regulations lia\e been 
drawn with a view of taking from the farms an even smaller proportion of 
men, and it is my hope that the local exemption boards will make the new 
classifications with a view of lightening! the load upon the farmers to the 
utiiio>t extent ' 

Tlu' iniiiihtT (if men taken for the army hy the draft alone 
woulil not fair^c ;ni\- st-rioiis sliDrtaj^e in tlic labor sui'l'ly. '"itil 
many more were taken than were incluiled in the lir>t draft, 
Init coniin.L; a> it doe- after the ranks of farm lalior have heen 
seriously ilepleted liy other drains, it makes a final demand that 
carries the supply helow the barest needs. 'i"he eountry is im- 
ploring; the farmer to increase his acreage and his yields. To 
increase tiie food sujjply is made to seem equal to service in the 
army, hut liow to comply with the demand is another (|uestion. 
The withdrawal of a gi\en mimlier of men is one thiiif^ viewed 
quantitatively. The withdrawal of the i,nven lumilier of men 
viewed <|nalitatively may l)e an alto,t,'eiher different matter. It 
is h.ard to re])lace the skilled farm laborer vvitli such as may 
become av.ailable in resjionsc to increased waives. The work 
is not as well done, it costs mtich more, especially when viewed 
per unit of accomplishment instead of per unit of time put in by 
tlie worker. 

(iorrnnihut .lid. With the entrance of the I'liUed States into 
the war. the Departiuent of .Xi^riculture imdertook to assist in 
solvin.s,^ the labor iiuestion which wa- sure to arise 'i"he Depart- 
ment of Labor has df'tices in all .'States and a [)lan was devised 
wherein- these "fllce- should cooperate with sjiceial farm labor 

nent of .Xgriculture.'-' This plan 
'{'he worlc of the 
special agent is to olttain information concerning the need- >'f 
f.arniers and the available su])ply of labor in ail rural conimur.i- 
lies and cities '.ip to 10.(Y)0 inh.abitant-. The I)e]i;.,-tment of 

' FrcMdent WiUjn, IVnklv .V.-r,.? r.-ttrr. Man ii 6. I'd.--!. 
■Weekly Xi"i'S Li-ltcr, Fcliruarv 27, IQIS; .linrncan licnitniinc K(--tnv, 
Supplement. M.irc!', I'MS. p. 15?. 



agent- furnisheil by the nejinrtnu 

has been put into practice in nearly all State- 



THE r.NITED STATES 



83 



Lal-or utulcrt^uk to in:iko Mirveys in all the more populous cen- 
IcTv lioili or^ani/aiions work with and through county agents, 
Councils of Deien^e, a,i;ricultural eoUegc., Boards of Agricul- 
ture, farniers' urgani/atiunr-. and the like. 

Tlie plan of organization was .luite similar in the difTerent 
State.. In Ohio, lor e.xample, the State wa, divided into twenty- 
one di.-tricts. Aith an employment otVice in each <li~trict. These 
olTices coc.perated uith the cnnty agricultural agent.. An in- 
(luirv sheet was circulated among the farmers asking tor a state- 
ment of the lah(.,r nee.ls. Ahout a third of the larmers a.ke.l 
for help for at least some part of the year. P.y August 9, I'Jl/ , 
not le~s than 2,400 farm hands had keen jilaced on tarms. 

Local ami State. U^l. The Farm I.ahur Bureau oi llriltimore 
has a plan wherehv men go on* to the country in groups ot live 
or si.x and hoard' themselves, working f.ir the farmers of the 
neighborhood. Over a hundred families froni the_^cuy were 
placed on Marvland farms during the summer of 1917. 

In several States, c. ,).. in Maryland, Fkirida. We^t X'irginia 
and Wisconsin, an effort to solve the labor question has beeii 
made in laws rcpiiring all able-bo<lied men between the ages ot 
twentv and fifty to work. If they do not find employment un- 
aided the State will find jobs for them, and a heavy penalty is 
provided for violation of the law. 

Help from the Department of Labor in furni4iing farm hands 
is not altogether a new thing 

For several vears, since 1914, it had undertaken to .lircct men 
to the parts of the country in which the demand, for seasonal 
help, as for ha. ■ ..ting, is acute. At headquarters in Kansas 
City, 3,922 men were assigned to p'aces during six weeks m the 
summer of BUT,. The ;q)plicants "came from all parts of the 
United States and included teachers student-, miner'^. machinist--, 
laborers, farmers, and profe^^i.nial men," They were <ent mto 
the harvest fields of Oklahoma. Kansas, .and Xebra.ka. 1 be 
w,,rk was continued through l'»17 in a similar manner, but the 
number of men reported was somewhat sm.aller ' 

. Fourth .\nPinl Report of the .Secretary of Labor. 1916; F.fth Report of 
same, T'l". 






,:1 



84 



i:i-KiaTs (ir iiii; w .\k lpun ackiciltuki; 



The RiSiiit. TIk- -ciiMiii 111" 1''17 cihk- and wt'iit, yet with all 
the talk (it laljMf shortage the bulk nt the i.rii|)> were tcink'il ami 
gathered \Mth little npiiareiit loss liexntid the u-ual. W aj;e-. in- 
deed were hif^dier than ininierly, leachnij; ni special ea>e> ei;;ht 
and even ten dnllar- a day. Thi^ was induced hy the nnusu.il 
prices ciliered fur tile pi'nduce fully as much as li> any ali-uhite 
shortaj;c of lalxir. lor example, tohaceo was selling fur the 
unprecedented price ni t\\ent\ and i\venty-t'i\ e eeiits a p. lund. 
A])ples were scarce and dear, lluth nf these crnps in some sec- 
tions were threatened h\- frost. It was a matter of good business 
to ]ia\- ten dollars for help the day a severe fro-t was ])redicied 
if Ii\ so doing several times ten dollars' worth of jjroduce could 
be saved. 

The be^t information at hand suggested that there was :i -.liort- 
age of labor in Pennss Ivania, ranging from none at all up to 
twenty-fne per cent in some localities and for certain seasons.' 
In the State of .\'e\v ^'ork according to a special cen-'Us taken 
in .\pril, I'M 7, there wa^ then a shortage of regular farm help 
of sixteen per cent a^ compared with the .\pril cen-us of I'Mfi. 
This sliort.ii^e was dtie to the higli wa^es otTered in other indus- 
tries, higher wages than farmers felt able to pa\'. 'Set there was 
a feeling that more than the usual number of men was neede(l.- 
.\ stud\- made in California showed the State to be short of farm 
labor in l'U7, but how -liort wa- not determined. The advance 
in wages for that State, was estimated at forty per cent over the 
rate of 1016. At the same time there was a serious decline, 
jicrliap^ twent\-tive per cent, in et't'iciency ^ 

The niulook for getting the farm work done in T^IS seemed 
anything but briglit. \et as the month- have p.issed no calamities 
have overtaken the countrv on account of a dearth of laborers. 
In March Congress passed an act ^ permitting the War Depart- 
ment to grant furloughs to soldiers needed for civil employment. 



1 rhila.iclpliia [ed.icr. December 15. 1117. 
= N'eu ^ nrk Si.ite Food Snppiv Commis-irn. Bulletin \o 2 
' \danis and K< Ih : .} Stu<i\ of Farm I.ahor m Cahforiita, L'niv, of Cali- 
fornia. 

* Aipproved March 16, 1918. 



TlIK INITF.D STATES 



83 



(h\ Ajiril 2. the War Pcpartnicnt issued an order pernmtiii^' xil- 
diei-. nut including cniimiissKined olticers, to l)e };ueii furloughs 
l(ir thu puriKi-e nt wmkin^' (in larnis esiiecially durin.i; seedinj; 
and harvest times, l•arnler^ were reiiuired to make exphcit state- 
ments with respect tu their needs.' Local re^n^tration hoards 
have exercised a i^oud deal of discretion in the matter ..i cla-.si- 
tication of men lor the army and have undertaken to see that 
some responsible jierson was left in charc;e of each farm. They 
have also been able, under the rules, tu defer the calling of many 
men until alter tlie rudi of work for the season was pa-t, au'l 
while this may mean only temporary relief, it has been of <;reat 
service. 

The men from cities who have had farm experience have lieen 
an important factor in tiie emergency help question In the 
surveys made during the winter of 1917-lS, over 50,(XXt city men 
ui iire\iou~ farm experience signilied their willingness u, work 
on farms du.ing harvest.- Thi-, t,f course, is not a large num- 
ber, but neither was it a large piroportion of the city men who 
eventually offered tn render service of this kind. The Depart- 
ment of Agriculture made a rough estimate that over 10O.vH)0 
boys not ordinarily employed on farms worked at some kind 
of farm work for a longer or shorter period in 1'>1/.' and a 
much larger number are available for l'>18. 

It is not possible at ibis time to make an estimate at all ac- 
curate :is to the sources of labor supply of I'MS. .\s an ex- 
ample It niav be mentioned that ihe labor agents of the go\ern- 
nient sent 18.(K)0 men .o help harve'-t wheat in Kansas,' while 
nian\ thousand more went with.nit the aid or knowledge of the 
bureau. The organizaiion of city men into clu'^s for f.-inii work ; 
the closing of business doors on certain days in harvest ; the otfers 
of labor unions to suspend ordinary work and help the farmers; 
these are leported the ccnintry over. Not always have the larm- 
ers taken kindlv to ihe otTers oi the city men wh(j volunteer to 



1 Ofnaal BMclin. .-Vpril 6, lOlS 

'-Coiwressionai K,ccni 65th (.one., 2rl Scs';., 4oS4. 
:<.l)i,,-rir(iM Ecoitomic Kr.^e'^ .'-upplcircnt. March, !>!(<. 
* hi ItttiT from Kansas Comicil nf ncten«f. 



86 



EFFECTS HI'' mm: WAK L'I'ON ACUICULTrKK 



help. A pood exainple ut llii> is fiinii^licd in tin- ca>c ci a ;,'ri)Ui> 
of city iiKMi in .Mi->c)uri ulio nlVcii-d tn wcrk Iml Inund tlu' 
tanners -kt-plii.'al. 'i'lie nun went nut and allocked a livid nl 
^'rani at tii^lit witliunt tltv iPwniT'-- kn^w k'llm.'. '1 hi- ar(in-i'd 
the nitcre-t I'l the ne'.^liln irhimd and a'li\ed the dntiht, Ahnost 
,at (iiiee telei)hi)iie eall- he,L;aii tn mnie in. and the \nhiiiteer- had 
all the work they cuiild dn' 

While it is not ]in--dlile tn report "n t!ie minilier oi laborers 
toniid in iiniisiial \\a_\s to take the ])kiee of the men called into 
the arinv, it is possible to assert that up to the rlo-e of ^raiii 
haive-t. HI all exeelit the \ery latent of the ^prini; wheat districts, 
that crops are, so far a- ni.uiired. safely t;athertd, 'i he Couii- 
cd> of Defense in Iowa, Xehraska and Michi,:,Mn, report that no 
real labor shortat,'e i^ (le\ elopinj,' 'I'lioe tiin-l be t>i)ical of the 
general situation. 

Xo shortage does not always ine;in that there is the usual 
amount of lilmr available. It ine;iiis that in ^onie way the work 
is being done. In some cases it is done by a greater reliance on 
machinery. In many cases women an<l children are employed 
more than u>ual. No doubt in man\ in>tances plans have been 
made whereby not so much, l.dior is neeiled, or at least not im- 
peratively demanded. With such methods of meeting the emer- 
gencv, along with the better utilization of the available help made 
pos-ible bv (irgani.^ation, and the he!]) of city men and boys, the 
work can be done and is being done." The outlook for the 
future in regard to farm help, is not by any means flattering. 
N'evertheles-, the Pcpartment of Labor, as>i-ted by the Depart- 
ment of .\griculture, through the State labor bureaus and county 
agent>, with the systematic surveys from time to time will be 
able to anticipate all real needs. This is the first step. The 
second should be fuller cooperation among farmers in the use 
of l;d)or. Third, lietter facilities for transferring labor to place- 
where it is needed mo<t. I'ourth. using l.ab(jr imt orduiarilv 
fullv iitili.'cd, snch as high schonl Ix.y-. hifih. releasui',' men 

I Ifceklx X>'-i's Li-tU-r. July 24. 1" IS 

-American Economk Review. Saiiplcnum. M.iroli. 1'11». 



Till, I MTI.I) STATr.S °7 

from work wliidi ciiti l.c .l.'iic l.y wonu'ii .111. 1 .1111.1.^111^' ilu nini 
on lariiiv Sixth, tal^ill^' -tcps t.) ^cr that ahl.' h..,hi-.l men w,,rk. 
Seventh, the iiilk-^t ii-c <'i lah t ^aviii^' tiiachiiKTy,' 

I.:,l„,r .,1 M,nic -..rl 1- -till available ami. even though liiuh, ihc 
I.iKc H i.n.hahlv ii..t rclatixdy Iu-Ikt than the prices <.t the farm 
pr.Mliue \shi.;h it hel|- t- hnn- t<' tlu' niarkel. With the aul ii..\v 
at hand, the .lilTu-ulty ..i ..htaiiimi; lalM.r >li.iiil<l k' re.liu'e.l to a 

miiiiiiniiii- 

Dunn- the pa-t -ix years the aveia^e in..iithly \va,L;e i.ir farm 

help ha- heeii : - I'.ill.iw.s : - 

Without UoarJ With U..ar.l 

1017 . SJ'/.^S J-"*<1 

19I3 ;■■.■.'..■.■.■.:,. M..n Ji..i8 

94 ::::::::::::: f->^. i\% 

IQis JO.1.1 -126 

,9 6 .U8.1 2^-25 

197 . 40.4,^ 28.87 

It will he ti..tice.l that wages increased ahout 23 per cent fr.^m 
1016 to 1017. The increase from 1917 to 1918 was about JO 
per cent. 

I'inaiicitil .-lid 

Credit. The United States, and each separate State, has until 

now, almost with.jut excepti^in, refused to e.xtend direct financial 

aid to the fanners. It has been .asked many times. In the prc-- 

ent emergency, several StaK- have made small appropriations of 

money to he lent t.) farmers who f.ir the time seem unable t.i 

finance themselves. Maine, in the spring of 1018. appropriated 

$250,000 f.ir tlii- purpose. Mention has been nia.le of the sale 

on time, bv the State, of see.l grain, to Utah farmers. In Utah. 

als.i. State money was rulvanced i.i help an irrigation pr.)ject out 

of a diflicnlty and enable it to go ahead with farming ..pcrations. 

The federal g.ivernment has made two moves in the interest 

of farm finance. In the spring of 101,8 Congress granted to the 

federal 1-arm Loan P.oar.l a sum of .$200,000,0(^0 in order that 

1 Weekly Sews Letter, January 2. lOR 

= Department of ..\Rricultiirc, March Crop Reports f..r each year. These 
estimates arc ma.lc by the crop rep<irters an<l should be fairly accurate, and 
at least comparable one year with another. 



l-^ 



88 



KKKKCTS OK TllK U AK ll'uN A(,l<h 11. 1 I KK 



the ffdiT.il f.inii luiiks nii^'ht imt rim -hurt ni' I'm.cK It li;i'l 
sccim-(! that the -ale of farm iiU)rt);a^,'c hoiuU ww^hi imt be ta^y 
in thi- late of such attractive offcrinj;s as were being made of 
United States boinK. At the -ainu tunc, ilu' interest rate on 
llie farm tnort;,Mge ImjihK wa^ increased ami it is reported tliat 
thev are in deinaiid li> i.. wealthy inve^lnr-. The >eei.nd mii\e 
(in the |iart ■! the iecU-ral i;o\erinnelU ,'< aid the faiiiu-r liiian- 
eiall_\- was an order oi the I'resideni aiithnri/inj; the Treasury 
Departnieiil, actinic with the Department of A^'riculture. to ail- 
vance $5.n< w'.Ot'd i.. farmers who ha\e sniYered lussf^ i,.r two 
successive seasun^ I'lom drcui^ht. '1 he loans will he handled 
throiii^h the federal land hanks. .Xn farmer may horrow iimre 
than S.VOU per acre on <.,"-.iin whiih hv proposes to snw I'T the 
I'M"* i.rii|>. II. .r oxer S.^i H i as a niaxir.iniii. It is iKit intended to 
make thesi' luaiK to farmeis wh" are al>l<' to liorrow locally on 
thfir iiwn credit. .\ ijrave daiii^'er in .^sta'a' loans of this kind is 
that farmers mae he iiiidnl} enconra^'ed to continue operatiuiis 
on !:;nd which should ni>t ],<_■ culti\ated at all. i'nrlher tiiK.ncial 
help w'll he accdrdeil a larger nuinher cf farmers thnm-h the 
.action nf the War l-'inaiice t 'nriioratinn which proposi.'-, to ad- 
\ance mi mev to hanks and trust companies w hich ha\'e made !( lans 
to farmers and cattlemen.' .\nother indirect means nf helpiti,il 
the farmer i.ut of tinancial dift'.cnlties is throu<jh more liheral 
terms with respi-ct to the redisecnmtiiiy of paper hx' the federal 
reserve hanks. 

'Ihe ( )hio ."state Cniiticil of Dcfeiisf discoxcied that the State 
Tndustrial (dmmi.ssion was ahont to imcst ,S1 ,' lOO.rxiO of State 
funds in honds. The fiovernor of the St.ite ordered that the 
mi'iiev he deposited in country hank-, and the State snpiTin- 
tcndeiit of liank< directed the coiintr\- hankers to offer full finan- 
cial aid til farmers, d'he hankers were asked to char<;e nut to 
exceed (> per cent interest. 

Gorrnuiiriifiil Aid in 1-ann Equipment. This is closely related 
to financial aid, hut may differ from it in that the farmer may 

' Weekly .V,-:ci Uthr, .\u!,'ii,t 7. 1918. 



IIIE INITEIl STATES 



S«» 



not wish to own the equipment in (luestion. This is the case 
with respect to >niall faini.rs wh.i may desire the use ot a farm 
„artor but n,av „ut care to own one. Again .t may not be so 

,„u.h t,n,nK-,,.l aul th,n h uantol a. a . mncc tr, huv t!,. roimrol 
art nil'. Muli a>, lcrli!i/cr. 

( „u- of the nio^t apparent nmU ..f the laniKT ulm ha^ L.tu 
I,f, .l„,n nf help hv tlu' uar, nr Nvhn on the other hand, u.^hes 
n. expan.l hi> tarnnni: nperatum,-. is for n.nre adeMuate niaehm- 
i-rv Horses are espenMve to keep, and ui some re^pevt, >ee.n 
.low \s a resuh. the tractor i, conun- nito la^or m many sec- 
tion, ni the counlrv. However, the tractor 1^ not ahn,^ether a 
true and trie.l friend, and at he^t cost- a hit; snm of nionev, >ev- 
cral State, nndertook to help the tanner- either to Iniy or rent 
,hc.e machine.. Ihe Council of Defen.e of the State ot New 
Yurk purchase.! 40 tractr.rs to be hired out to the farmer> at gnen 
rate> per hour. Competent operat.M's were in chart^e 1 he 
Michigan Council of Defence made a contract with Henrv lord 
and Son for 1.000 tractor, to he sold to the farmers at lartory 
co.t. ^750 each. While hut 330 of tlie.e were di-po.ed ot hv the 
Comicil a ureat manv more were .old on the same ha.i. hy honl 
agent. Xot onlv was this true m Michi^-an, hut thev were on 
sale m other States at the same prices. In Ohio, the State C oun- 
cil of Deten.e cooper.ated with tr.actor manufacturers m the en- 
coura^^cment of sales. It was phinne.i to sell 1.300 tractors to 
farmers durim; the vear 1')1S. It was reported that the goal was 
hkelv to he reached. A tractor s.-hool was con<luctcd, whuh 
2,000 farmers attended. Smaller schools were hel.l in variou. 
counties. The main ohject in introducing so many tractors l to 
replace man power. 

In a less <lirect wnv, several States are instrumental in adding 
to the farm equipment hv stimulating the farmer's interest and 
perhaps tinding credit for him. This is conspicnou.lv true in 
,he encouragement L'iven to silo Iniildmg. In Iowa the .state 
Council of Defense has solicited fund, with which to conduct a 
silo cauipaign. urging farmer., to build. In Indiana county meet- 



I 



00 



i:i'Ki:crs (n-- riu'. w ak iri>s ACKicn.TrnF. 



iiigs arc hcM riml clcfmitc iiuiiilvr^ of ^ilos sii^'gcsti'il for the 
county. 'V\k plan i:. to iiiiluce iho IniiMini; of lO.CHtD silos in 
time for the I'MS crop of corn. 

TIw PcrtiU::cr Situation. '1 here arc three primary fertihzcr 
material-. n>ccl in ■■commercial fertilizers." These are nitrates, 
pliosphate.-. aii<l p(~ita--inm. 'I'lie cotton, tohaceo, truck ami cit- 
rus fruit ^rowinu districts of the I'nitcii States have for years 
heen <,M-eatly dependent on fertilizer,-, cf this kind. The main 
sources, of supply ha\e heen Chile for nitrates, Germany for 
potassium, while pho-j)hatcs liave heen found in ahundance in the 
United States. 

liefore the war, >\e were importing; ;i million tons of potassium 
from ( iennan}-, which cotmtrv had a virtual monopoly of the 
world's availalile supplv. In 1013, niuri.ate of potadi from Ger- 
many sold here for .^.i'' a Ion. In V^^ -;o desperate had the sit- 
uation Iccome that it was quoted at .S500 a ton.' Importations 
had virtually ceasfil. 

At i)resent, we ;ire inciting along on a \ery short supplv of 
pctassiuni. The natural deposit-; in this country thus far di-;- 
covered are very sin:.!l, and in some instances hard to work. 
There is >tr'ing hope of being ;il)lc to reCo\ur ]iota>siinn lirgcly 
from the wa-tcs of wool and wood, and from cement manufac- 
ture and blast furnace- as a by-product. Th.c most hopeful of 
all, h(iwe\er, i> the u-e of sea kelp which contains a large ]kt- 
centage oi pota--sium -alts. The gmernment i-- experimenting 
with rdl of these possible sources of -^uppl}- with a \ iew to fur- 
nishing the needed potassium from our own national re--ources as 
r.apidlv as possible.' In tlie meantime, how great will be the loss 
in agricultural production due to a lack of iiotassium fertilizer is 
a matter of conjecture. 

The nitre)gen situation while perhaps no more acute than that 
with respect to potash, seemed ;i little more pos^il)le of solution 
and for this reason an attemjit was made by the government to 
aid in the matter. Since the nitrates were to be obtained in 
Chile, it was a (jucstion cd' sbipp.ing and price, Kjth of which 

1 Yearbook, DepartiiKiit >>{ .\t:ririiltnre, HI''!, p ,^01. 



THE UNITKn STATES 



91 



could be iii..nagc<l .nnrc advantagcuu>ly by the government than 
bv private enierpri^e. _ , , , „ 

' The 1-00.1 Control Act, August 10. 101/. authorized the 1 res- 
ident to use $10,000,000 in the purchase of nitrate= tor lertiluer 
to aid in the pro.luction of crops during 1917 and 1918. It was 
too late to do anvthing for the 1917 crops, but measures were at 
,,ncc taken for the use of the fund with which to make the pur- 
chases for the 1918 crop. The appropriation was sufficient for 
the purchase of about 100,000 to 13(X0(X) tons of Chilean nitrate 
The LX-partment of Ai^riculture has charge of the <listr.bution of 
it The high prices at which it must be sohl, about $/o.00 per 
ton in order lo cover the expenses, preclude the use of it tor gen- 
eral purposes and restrict it mainly to that of fertilizing truck 
an.l market garden land. The amount which can be han.llec 
w ith the money available is little more than a third of the normal 

(luantitv used. . , ■ , , i 

The'excessivelv high prices at which the nitrate is being held 
ar^ sai<l to be due to the high price of fuel needed m its produc- 
tion in Chile, C<.uld the Chileans get cheaper fuel we would get 

cheaper nitrate.' 

The Department negotiate f^r l-'O.OOO tons, but was able to 
deliver but 75,000 tons. The remainder of the 120,000 tons 
purchased will be shipped, but of course will be much tno late lor 
use in 1^1,^ The demand for nitrates for munition purposes 
is so great, that it is doubtful whether there will be any consid- 
craijk quantity available for fertilizer next year,^ 

M.\kki;ting 
Much attention has been given to the subject of marketing. 
mainlv from the standpoint of p.'-ible economies. 1 he ageiKies 
doin-'this work are primarily the Bureau of Markets, various 
n^ricultural cllc^e^. an.l Cntmcils of TVfense. The Bureau ot 
Markets has merely enlarged its scope ; the colleges, likewise, have 

1 «n,;,h an,l TI.-.inc.: The I-armers' Prospects of a X.m.tc Snpph-. Manu- 
script report to tl,. l--.,o,l .\<l.nin,strat;nn, December. 1917. 
•-■ lfVW,-;y .V--;" ''■"'•'■■ Arm-;t /. l*).!^. 



11 



92 



;iKi;(TS oi' 1111-; war ri'iix .Miuii ri.i lkk 



j;iinc alu'iul with work very similar Vi that wliic'- alrfU'ly in 

liri>^n-f^~, althdui;! -nine ni then have [iraciica Mm at the 

l)e.i,'inniii,s,'; the L'nuiieils of Defense liavc taken . f the niar- 

ketint; wnrk where emergencies ha\e virtually (ieman(le<l it. In 
aiMilinii to the'-e agencies many city boar(l^ of commerce ha- e 
undertaken to aid m marketing liy installing or enccjuraging 
the iii-itallation of nuiuKipa] markets. AKo various civic hodies 
.such a- wdinen's clubs have a>>i>ted locall}' in many [ihases of 
marketing. 

77;r Bureau of Morkets ' 

It would lie .altogether intiiossible to separate the work of the 
i'.urcau of Markets as it was developing before we entered the 
war from its special luidertaking brought about by the war condi- 
tions. Many projects were alreadv under way which have been 
found extremely useful and which have on that account been 
hastened lo greater development in order to meet the needs. 
M;irketing i)rohlem^ had for several years been recognized as of 
paramount importance, but with the uni)recedented problems 
l)rought about in 1''17. it was e\ident that marketing was in some 
ca>es not mereh- as important as production, but was the whole 
<|uesiion of the supply of necessary goods, since gooils not 
marketed ;ire nonexistent so far as use is concerned. The P.u- 
rerui of Markets can not sol\e .all marketing (|ue>tions. but it has 
been found extremely helpful in the solution of many of them. 

The work of the r.urc;ui of Markets lias been closely associated 
with the l"oo(l Administration ami the various State emergency 
nrgani/.ations. Much marketing information has been iinpera- 
tivelv needed bv the bdod Administr.ation in order to carry its 
plans into cifect. and to ;i great extent the Jiiu'eau of Markets has 
been able to furni'-b it. 

The work of the r.ureau of ^b•lrkets may Ix" discussed under 
three luad- : investigational and denionstrational service and 
regul.-ition. 

' The information concrrning: tliis linre.Tii is drawn mainlv from one of its 
own Ivitli tins entitled " What the 15ureaii of Markets is Uoing to Hcli) in this 
\\ ar F.incrKency." 



THK 



rNlTKP STATES 



93 



The early ^tudic- of thf l>urcau were mainly in the line of inves- 

£u' ' Se ai ^of niny people in cost of production as the 
;^;:;;;::,I factor nM..e. and. h,chnu.tthe..ore^n^^ 
if nrice. are to he fixed hy .ijovernmental authontv. 1 '"- th^ e 
;i;;ies ,t l.. heen necessary to rely n,au,ly on stud.es alreTd> 

'"'t^rstiy.Uions. Investigations have heen ■"-!- 'lur.n, the 
past vear, e>peciallv with respect to .nnned.ate result. Pronn 
S!:^^:n.;,g the.e are studies of the proces.es othandln,, a d 
shipping per,.hahle connnuditie. the questions oi pacKaRc. o 
refr -elation, of expedition in movement, ot goods. .\ .tud> ot 
;:^:^.na cuahty of creamery hutter - ,s a goo<l example ot w.^ 
l,f ,„ investigational nature carried on by the Burea., o Ma - 
kets. an<l which has a greater s.gn,hcance on account o he 
.var and the interest in high prices, hut wh,ch wou .1 no doul 
l^, been made u. substantially the same form had there been 

''''^■icr The work of the bureau which :.a> conforme<l closely 
to 'emergency demands is in funnshing a market report service, 
^.;; enforcing regulation n.asures. The njarket -1-t ser.ce 
was started some nu.nths before we entered the ^;'^ •^■« ' ''I^ 
proved its w..rth in the marketing of perishables. During m , 
I scope was very greatly widened. While of grea,^ interest, he 
„v>rke report -vstem in connection wuh perishable, do . not 
W;;^^rv directlv on the war. nnetly it consists nr gathering 
fr.,n, the raiUva^ division superintendents each evening a re, w 
„- freight shipments .m their respective lines. i hese report, 
e prired lor mailing dm-ing the night .Id sent out .n.n 

sevcl-al different centers the next mormng. .\t the end o. a.h 
week a review of the week's shipments atid pnce> -s pttbh.hed. 

The ne.s service is applied in a very sinnlar ntanner to 

I Bulletin No. t 8-' i I'.urciu of Markets). 



i 1\ 



94 



KlFliLTS OI- THE \V.\R Ll'OX ACNlL TI.TURE 



tlie market iiij; nf dairy and poultry iiniducts.' A s\>tc'in 
ui rcjKjrtiiij; m'cmI stocks and prices jironiiM's to lie of assi'-iancc in 
the tiitiire. (.'ertainly it would lia\e lieen worth millions i>i dol- 
lars to tile country had it been well organized at the time the war 
began. 

Sonietiiiiii; clo.-ely akin to the news service in connection with 
perishable- has been Ue\eloi)ed lor li\e stock and meat. The need 
of increasing the supply of meat was recognized as .mjou as we 
entered the war. The Ikireau of Markets very promptly organ- 
ized a system of re[)orting the ;unounts ,,t uk-a[ and e.i;.L;s. in all 
the important cold st(jrage houses of tlie country. Also the state 
of the trade and current prices are reported daily from about si.\ 
great cities. Since the terms in use by the tra<le do not have the 
same meaning in all m;:rkets the bure.iu is undertaking a stand- 
ardization of terms. 

I- or li\e stock the bureau h.is undertaken the important task of 
reporting ihe leading facts concerning feeding stock an<l finished 
stock whereby it is possible for interested parties to learn \Tiat is 
being done at a given time, and what i^ likely to develop in the 
near future. A beginning has been made in getting information 
on the -tock wliicii i> marketable at a given time. 

With rc'-pect to li\e stock slii])piiig an important arrangement 
has been effected c^'Ucerning the time of arrival of the stcjck. 
I'or many years the custom of shijiping so a^^ to get to market 
Monday or Wednesday has iieen prevalent. In necember, l'>17. 
the -pecial committee on national defen-e of the .\merican Rail- 
\yay As.sociation re(|uestcd the P-m-eau of Markets to ad\i-e the 
live stock interests that shipments woold be ;icirpted according to 
zone- whereby the arri\;d of the stock would be so tinied as to 
spread it over the week more e\enly. Local railwav agents were 
ai'vi-ed to accefit shipment'- from jxiint- wi'hin 3oO miles of Chi- 
cago for arrival there on Tite-days, Thur-(la\-, bridaxs and 
Saturda\- only. Stock lUdre di-tant. but reiiuirimr not o\er My 

' .\ monllily rqiurt is litiiig nia<lo on all d.iiry product nianul'acturcs. of 
Rrcat iisf in the direction of production and conservation. — U'cckly Xeix's Let- 
ter, June I''. \'>\H. 



, 



THE rNITKD STATES 



95 



hours for transit were shipped tor arrival on Sundays. This 
was a chan^a- the farmers ha<l heen asking i.^r, and while the 
packers did not object, the dilTiculty was to bnn- it to pa^^. T he 
anthoritv of the government Kjgether with the cooperation oi the 
railroads was able to accomplish the reform with no delay.' 
There were many di>advantages and few, if any, advantages m 
the congestion of ^i.jck at the yards during the lirst half oi the 
week. During February, l'»hs, under 'he neu arrangement, in- 
stead of heavy arris als on .Monday, the percentage of the week's 
recei|)ts lor that ilay were reduc-d aInio>i half, while the Tuesday 
and Thursday receipts wue almost equal to that "f Monday. 
Tuesday's percentage being double that of I'U'.- 

Tiie bureau furnishes information concerning hay and grain 
in a manner similar to that noted above for other coniinodities. 
The reports show the stocks in dealers hands, receipts and ship- 
ineiits, and jirevailing market jirices. This information has as- 
.sisted in the saving of much •' back haul " by finding the nearest 
available stock for a gi\en market instead of dealing mainly 
through a central market from which nnuh rcshipping is always 
necessary. The information regarding hay and grain has been of 
great value to the War Department. 

Standardization. Much commendable work is being done in 
establishing standards. Tb.is was pro\ided for in the I'ood Pro- 
duction Act. During 1017, an act was passed at the instance of 
the Bureau of Markets providing for the siandardi/atidn of a 
great number of ci'iitainers f^r fruits and vegeKiblcs. Xcw for 
the lirst time, aU interstate shipments of fruits and vegetables 
must be in standard containers. This provisi.m w,ll probably 
result in the use of standard container for shipments within 
States also.-' .Manufacturers are already discontinuing the mak- 
ing of ;.hort measure containers.^ .\ -ystem of grading jiotatoes 

' Tlie aKricn!tnr;il situation fcir flS. TV-partrncnt of .XLTiciiltiirc, OtTice of 
Secret.jrv. Circular No. S4 ,,, , r-i ■ mi 

-/I'-v StocL- atui Mral Trade \i-ws (Biireau of Markets 1, Chicaeo. .March 
6, 19t8. 

:< n",vi/v .V.-:..v Idler, .\pril 2-4. 1018 

*lhid., iiilv :4. 1918. 



Ill 



96 



KFFKCTS (U- Tin: W AK ri'dN ACKK I I.I ri;l'. 



til standaril m/c wns i)tit into V()j;in.' in >i'\c'r;il State-- (ItiniiL; the 
spring lit I'US. Ami perhaps a> iiiipdrtant a> any (it these, the 
Grain Siai daiil Act, ]ias.-eil several iiiniiths lietore \vc entered the 
war. was |.iu iiitci ellect. i'i_\ tlie^e art^ and clei)artinenlal urder^. 
standarcHzatioii i.-, liemi^ liriiui;ht ab'ait with a ra[)idu_v iKit pre- 
\ioUsly iniai,fined. 

'Ihe Warehduse Aet. in I'M", pnt-- the enM stnrai;': and entn- 
111(111 stcra^'e h(iii--es of the country clearly in ilie public utilities 
cla-.s. 1 hey aie re'jnired to store iCr am one wid'.oiit discrii ;i- 
nation: iiui-t not issue cenificales Avitliont actual holding; of the 
liroduct: iiui-t make rep(ins to the Secretarv of .Xcjriculture. 
I'lider the o|>eration of this act the lUireau of Markets is enabled 
to publish from time to time an authentic re|)ort on the amount 
of foodstut'f in storaije. 

'I'he re;;ulation duties of the l)iireau consist in responsibilities 
in connection with the enforcement (if the abo\e mentioneil acts. 

The ( Iraiii Standard Act, pa-sed in I'Md, is beini: ])iit into 
practice and furnishes inforniatioti such as could not otherwise 
be hatl '] he importance of such inlorniation in time of war is 
iiuahialile. 

Motor TnicLw. The coiitjestion of freii:;ht traffic on the rail- 
roads had led to the dexelopmeiit of many motor truck freit^ht 
lines, (,(iiid roails are of cour.ie essential for sati-fact' irv motor 
truck service, but where the roads are usable in .all. or nearlv all, 
weather conditions, the (leveIo[)ment of motor truck freit^ht serv- 
ice seems assured. ihe lUire.iu of .M.irkets has m.ide iinestii^a- 
tions as to the possibilities of niot^ r truck freight ser\ ice. and in 
some instances h;is stiper\ised shipments. A iiioior truck mute 
from X'ineland, X. j.. to Xew N'..rk ( 'ity has been e-l.ablished 
over which trucks tr.avel ref^nil.arly, pickin;.; up e,t,'t;s from ])ro- 
ducer-- anil deliverini,^ them, direct to wholesale dealers in Xew 
^ ork I ity. The tlr^t load \\ent through without a sinijle egg 
bein;; broken and made 1 etier time than exjire--- shipnients.' 

'Ihe I'.nreau of Markets has o[)ened oftices in several cities as 
clearing liouses for infomiation of both producers and motor 

» Weekly W-is Letter. June S. 1918. 



Till-: INITF.D STATES 



97 



iruck operator, in onlcr to i.iahtatc thu work of moving 

jjruduce.' 

Rail:. ii\ Scnicc. 'Ihe bureau has <U:-ie much work m con- 
n.-ciion wuh raihsay transportation. One (luotion whidi n ha-, 
hdpcd the railwa> management to M.lve i> that ut lrei,i^hi em- 
bar^'(^es and tlie exceptions that should be made m favor of agn- 
cuh'iiral product.. Ihe bureau ha. put beiore the Comiui.sion 
on Car Service of tlie Railroad \okintary W ar Uoard, and huer 
tlie Director (■."ueral of Railroads, prompt and accurate informa- 
tion with re.pect to the need for cars in many particular sections; 
not onlv t' .hipmeiu of products has been facilitated but also 
the shipment of supplies needed by farmers. The efiicient use ut 
cars has been the end sou-ht in all instances. Thi. w..rk i. ui 
the formative .tage. it hem- planned to develop it much further/'' 

F.fforts to nriiuj About a More Direct System of Mavketinj 
This work is bein- done bv the liureau of Markets, State Coun- 
cils of Defense, and various civic orRanizations, the latter usually 
of a local character. The work of the Bureau of Markets m this 
i-esar.l coii,.ists mainlv in makin- reports which appear m the 
citv papers. Bv this means those interested in the market know 
the leading facts as to supplies and prices. V^my Councils ot 
Defen-e have market int; committees which undertake to aid m 
^olvini: marketing problems. (~)ne of the most thoroughly <irgan- 
i/e<l committees of this kind i. in Pennsylvania. Over thirty- 
farmer curb markets were establishe-l in thi> State during 191/, 
and for the mo.t part were a success. County food surveys were 
in progress with a view t.^ marketing all food possible within 
the countv.-' l-Jlorts are being ma<le to furni-h growers infor- 
mation which uill enable them to m;irket pr,,tltably foo.l which 
would otherwise be a drug on the market, .\ssistance is given 
m the matter of relieving congestions of f,,odstuff m city mar- 
kets, the pian being to get it into the hands of people who are 

1 11',','klv \i-ws Letter, Tunc -'6 .iiul .\uj;iist 7. .. 

•^ ■ \V1 a the Bureau <.f ".Markets ,s Doiuj; to iUl,, in tius War l.mer^ency 
^ Annals ,'f the \nu-r,can .\ca,lenn- „f I'oliucal and >oaal Scunce. .\,nem- 
•ucr. 1917. 



ri 



98 EFFECTS or TIIK WAR UPON .\GUICri.TL*RE 

able to take care of it without wa>te. Much has been done in 
developing the ca^h and carry plan. .M^^u model stores have i)een 
orgain/ed, all inmecessary costs lieing eiuninated. 

A very ettecti\e kind of help has been rendered on several 
occasions by putting on a " drive " for the consumption of suine 
article likely to go to waste. This was done for (lotatoes, in se'. - 
eral States, particularly in those ha\i g the >urpUises, as Michi- 
gan, Wisconsin, I'ennsyKania, and Idaho. 

Une of the most elaborate efforts in the direction of economy 
in marketing is reported from Maine. 

I.iaine has nrt;ani/c(l definite niacbiiiery for the marketing of its l')I8 eropj 
with a view to increa^inK the State's consumption of its own soil products. 
At a recent meeting of tlie State coinmittee on food production and conserva- 
tion a marketing committee was appointed. A bureau of information is to lie 
cstahhshcd to deal with prices and output of farm products. At the close of 
the 1918 har\ est a survey will l)e made of the crops by counties thro\igh com- 
mittees and oruanirations that already exist. .\ survey is to be made imme- 
diately of tlie markets of the State to ascertain their requirements of prod\tce 
grown in Maine, this work luini; undertaken by boards of trade, chambers of 
coimnerce, lat)or organizations, and conunittees of public safety.' 

'1 he cooperation between State colleges of agriculture a'ld 
the I'.ure.iu of Markets wliereby a marketing agent is stationed 
in the State has experienced a rapid growth. About half of the 
Slates are now (.n this basis. As evamp'es of the work it may 
be noted that in Kan-as and Iowa State clearing h(->Uses have 
recently been establislicd furnishing information on farm pi'oducc 
for sale by farmers. This plan if it cni be made to work slumld 
eliminate a considerable part of the middleman charge in connec- 
tion with the goods in (|uestion. 

A great ni.iny local organizations, such as women's clubs, have 
inspired the opening of municipal markets. The infontiation 
concernuv-; ihe operation is not .available. Mam of them ha\e 
succeeded -o far as continuing to run is concerned. ( 'n the other 
hand, the problem of the mtmicipal market is not a siuiple one, and 
whether these newly founderl organizations will hold together 
' .•\crirulf!•^.^I index. TrN , 1Q1,5. 



I hi; 



Nrrni) ?t.\tks 



99 



;ilt.T til" impetus jiiven tlu-ni hy the war is gone is a question. 
At present tlie uiipai.l .-crMCc -i a lar^'e number ..t puijlic ^pinie.l 
women is a factor, prohahly a (leci.lmg factor in their success. 

■j'he mterest in cuttm.i; down prices has stinnilaled tlie atienti.m 
i^nven to direct >lupmenl> of foods by parcel po.t, tliouj,di withoiu 
any prospect of making' such marketing; practicable for any con- 
siderable number of farmers. On the other hand, the savingsre- 
sulting from the cutting down of delivery costs in the cities, 
through '• ca'^h and carry." charge for delivery, and cooperative 
delivery, promi-e nimh in the way of ultimate savmgs which 
eventually mu=t benetit both producer and consumer. 






I 



CHAPTER V 



The Federal Food Administration 

Xo sooner had wi.' inrmally (.'iittTc-il the \s.ir th;m it \^.;l^ recog- 
nized I)y the fiovcrmiuMital aiulionins that the cxi^eiicio nf the 
ca>e witli rojicet ti> a ci'iitimiaiicc cit i'-(u\ Mipplies at jiriccs within 
reach dt the people lieniaiideil ]ir(im|it aeiiMii. 

Till. I'i;i>ii)|;ni M \ki> ki c hm mi;\I)\ iions 

The I're-'iileiit \\as nut wilhiiL; t" tni~t to a A n.vxr .--/,;;><• pdlicy, 
hehe\iiij.; that the law^ ni eumpetitiuti would he sn hedged about 
liy the all'airs :>\ war a-- tn ]ire\ent their tree plav. The experi- 
ince lit" liirope alread\' m it-- tiiird year, in dealiiif; with the I'lmd 
••ituatinii. showed iilainl\ that the (leea^mn for (.•oiHern in the 

matter ot" Imth tiie ^iippK' and the co^t nl' t 1 ua^ \erv real. 

I he iniai;inaln iii ot' the ^])eeiilator> w a~ elearly capable ol' jiri )tiipt- 
iiiL; them to take ha/ardous chance^ on purchase-- at hiL;h ])rices. 
This u;u-> illii-trated in the ri-e in wheat prices to S,V4Ji a liuslicl 
witiiin a Ie\s' week- al'ter war wa- declared, thjtir at the same 
lime reaclim^^ S^17.l'<> ,i barrel at whole-ale. 

The I're-ident asked lor le^iskition gi\ in<:; liim cxtraor(Unary 
power over the fooil supplies of the cmintry.' Tlie-e powers cni- 
braced the t:ikin_i( of ceii-n-es of stock on hand. i|ue-tion- of 
hoardiiii;. of maimfactiire, -.'ile and n-e. Xothinj,^ could be more 
comprehen-i\e Tie a-ked for snpreme riuilioritv over the whole 
caiei,'ory of fooiNlnt'f- from the r:i\v -*;ite to tlv fmisheil article, 
coxeriiiij all bii-ine-.s relatioiislnps. and likewi-e the kiiKl> and 
amount- of foods that shmild be consumed. The latter f|uestion 
had almo-t ne\er been \icwtil b\' the American jieople as any- 
thing,' which the .^tate could coutro!; it was looked upon as a Jier- 

' Statement h'v.cd hv the I'rcidcnt. Miv 10, 1'J17, U'rrklv .Vrrc.f Letter, 
May .W, 1017. .'=ee ako ,hid . .\pril -'.\ 1"17. 

100 



nil. L NUl.U >l Alfcs 



lt)l 



sonal niattiT ciiiin-lv . l'foi)!o witl- sii])i)i'SC(l u< li.ivc a ri^l't to 
aintliiiif,' ulndi tla-v o.nM i-ay I'ir Xmw it u.>^ piuiioM-il to put 
tlic matter ..n an intiul\ (litttrciil l:a>i-, it n- Imi-cr l.fiii.; a 4iu">- 
ti,,n i.t in,li\Hlual 11^1)1. nr ability W l.u\, but the lar^c quc:-ti.in 
.,f >liaiiii^; uiib nur Allu-. The amount of lood available in 
the s,,nn,^ oi V>\7 ua> alarinin-l> ni-a-er, taking the countries 
\\c-t oi the Uhiui.' into account. Not only \va> it imperative that 
America produce cvcrv bit oi loo.l iio^iblc but ii was e-iually 
necessarv that the i."..l pio.hue.l ^ho^l:.l b. u^e.l ec..tin:iiica!ly. 
It was necessary not .iiil> that food be provi.Je.l for the .Mlie-. but 
as a practical problem it wa-, ncce-ary to make the divi-ion be- 
tween home jieople and .\llies on the bas,- .,1 the character of the 
f,,od and it> aliibty to stand -.hipmeiit, Ihis meant a chan},'e in 
the diet of the .\merican iieople. L'nder ordinary circum>tances 
such a chan^'e a- this could not conceivablv be br..ii},dit to i>a--, m 
many vears. The I'reMdent proposed to bring it to pas. uithm a 
few month-. 

r.elievin- that the work of admini-tering the propo-cd law- 
should be in the hands of s,,me one other than the Secretary of 
A-riculture on whom such important dutie- with respect to food 
pr?.duction were sure to be laid, the President proposed the crea- 
tion of a iV.leral bood A.lmini-tration, and several months in 
advance asked .Mr. Herbert Hoover to act as Administrator. It 
was pointed out that the ('ood Administrati.m could not grow 
into a bureaucracy since it will automatically end at the clo-e of 
the war. Moreover, it i- manned l. cly by unpaid workers. 

'I'liE Food Act 
\"erv promptly a bill was introduced in the House by Mr. 
Lever, embodving the substance of the request- of the President. 
\ similar bill' was introduced in the .'Senate on June J3. and the 
measures were .lebaied for the greater part of two months. 
After a conference comnuttee struggle lasting about two weeks, 
the bill passe.l, and on August 10 was approved by the President. 
The act is known formally as " .\n act to provide further for 
tlie national '^ecuritv and .lefen-e bv encouraging the produc- 



f 
■f 






IDJ 



EFFECTS Ul- Tin: U AK ll'llV A(iUlcLLTl.'HE 



lion, cull -tr\ 111- ilic -upi)!) , ami contniUing the tlistriljiition of 
food pr.aliicu and lood." Ihc leading features of the act, 
so far as they pertain to aynculiure and loud control, are as 
lollo\^ b : 

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
L'nited States of America in ConBrcs> a«eml.kd, that b> reason of tlic ex- 
ijttnce of a state of war. it is essential to the nanoiMl ^ec^lrlty and defence 
for the snccessfnl prosecution of the war, and for the snpport and mainte- 
nance ot the army and navy, to assure an adequate supply and cquital-lc 
distribution, and to iacilitate tlie movement of foods, feeds, fuel iiKlud- 
iuK fuel oil and natural jjas. and fertduer and tertili/cr ingredients, tools, 
utenMls, implements, nuuhinery, and e(|uipmcm rc,|uired for the actual pro- 
duction of ioods, feeds .,nd fuel, iiercafter in this .ict called ne.e-saries ; to 
prevent, locally or Kentrally, scarcity, nionopoli/.itiun, hoarding, injurious 
specnLition, manipulations, and pruate controls, alTectiUK such supply, distri- 
bution and moM-uient; and to establish and maintain govcrnmciual cuiurol 
of such neccss:ii.cs durini; the war. For such purposes the iiKtrumeiitalities, 
means, methods, powers, authorities, duties, obligations, and nrolubilions here- 
inafter set forth are created, established, conferred and prescribed. The 
President is autiiori/ed to mike such regulations and to issue such orders as 
are essential et'tectively to carry out the provisions of this act. 

Sec. 4. Th.it it is hereby made unlawful lur any person wilfully to de- 
stroy any necessaries for the purpose of enhancing the price or restricting 
the supply thereof; knowingly to commit waste or wilfully to permit pre- 
ventable deterioration of any necessaries in or in connection with tlicir produc- 
tion, manufacture, or distribution, to hoard, as defined in section six of this 
act. any necessaries, to monopolize or attempt to monopolize, either locally 
or generally, any necessaries; to engage in any discriminatory and unfair, 
or any deceptive or wasteful practice or device, or to make any unjust or 
r.nreasonable rate or charge, in handling, or dealing in or with any neces- 
saries; to conspire, combine, agree, or arrange with any other person Ca"! to 
lunit the facilities for transporting, prodr.cmg, harvesting, manufacturing, 
supplving, storing, or dealuig in any necessaries, (b) to restrict the supply of 
an> necessaries; (c) to restrict distribution of any necessaries; (dl to pre- 
vent, limit, or lessen the manufacture or production of any necessaries in 
order to enhance the price thereof, or (e) to exact excessive prices for any 
necessaries; or to aid or abet the doing ot any act made unlanf'il by this 
section. 

Sec. 5. That, from time to time, whenever the President shall find it es- 
sential to license the importation, manufacture, storage, mniing. or distribu- 
tion of any necessaries, in order to carry into effect any of the purposes of 
this act. and shall publicly so announce, no person shall, after a date ti.se 1 
in the announcement, engage in or carry on any such business specified in 
the announcement of importation, manufacture, storage, mining, or distribu- 
tion of any necessaries as set forth in such announcement, unless he shall 



m 



TIIF. UNITKI) STATES 



103 



secure iin.I hold a licen« i>-.iied pursuant to thi< section. The I're-i'Icnt u 
atithori/o(l to issue such lic.nses ami to prcicril>c retjulations for the issuance 
ot hciiises and re>|inrenient=. tor systems of accounts an<l auditina ol accounts 
to be kept by hccM,ces. s;ibmis»ion of reports by them, with or without oath 
or artirmation. ami the entry and inspection by the I'resldcnt's duly author- 
ized aKeiits of the places oi IniMiiess ol licensees. Whenever the I'residcnt 
shall hiid that any stiragc charije. commission, profit, or practice of any 
license? is unjust, or unnasonablc, or distriiuinalory and unfair, or wasteful, 
and shall order such licensee, within a reasonable time :ixed in the order, 
to discontinue the same, unless such order, which shall recite the facts found, 
is revoked or suspended, such licensee shall, wtthin the time prescribed in the 
order discontinue such unjust, unreasonable, .l.scriminatory and unf.iir stor- 
age charKC. commission, prout or pr.u tice. Ihe President may, in lieu of any 
such iMijust, unreasonable, discriminatory, and unfair storage charge, com- 
nussion. profit, or practice, find what is a just, reasonable, nondiscriminatory 
and fair storage charRc, commission, profit or practice, and in any proceed- 
iiiK brout-ht 111 air- court such order of the President shall be prima facie evi- 
dence. .•*ny person who, without a license issued pursuant to this section, 
or whcsc license shall have been revoked, knowingly cuRagcs in or carries on 
any business for winch a license is required under this section, or wilfully 
fails or refuses to discontinue any unjust, unreasonable, discrinunatory and 
unfair storage charge, commission, profit, or practice, in accord.incc with the 
requirement of an order issued under this section, or any regulation pre- 
scribed under this scctiim. shall upon conviction thereof, be puirshed by a 
fine not exceeding $5,000. or by imprisonment for not more than two years. 
or both; P-ovidcd, That this section shall not apply to any fanner, gardener, 
cooperative association of farmers or gardeners, iiicUiding live st'^ck farmers, 
or other persons with respect to the products of any farm, garden, or other 
lai 1 owned. Iease<l, or cultivated ^' him. nor to any retailer with respect to 
the retail business actually conducted by him, nor to any common carrier, 
nor sii.ill anytliing in this section be construed to authorize the fixing or im- 
position of a duty or tax upon any article imported into or exported from the 
United Stales or any State. Territory, or the District of Columbia ; Prmulcd 
furlhcr. That for the iiurposes of this act a retailer shall be d. .mcd to be 
a person, copartnership, firm, corporation, or association not engaging in the 
whiilesale busuu-ss whose gross sales do not exceed JIOO.IXKI per aiiiuun. 

Sec. 6. That any person who wilfully hoards any necessaries shall upon 
conviction thereof be fined not exceeding S.s.OOO or be imprisoned for not 
more than two years, or both. Necessaries shall be deemed to be hoarded 
within the meaning of this act when either (a> held, contracted for .u 
arranged for by any person in a quantity in excess of his reasonable require- 
ments for use or consumption by himself and dependents for a rcasonalde 
time; (b'l held, contracted for, or arranged for by any manufacturer, whole- 
saler, retailer or other dealer in a quantity in excess of the reasonable re- 
quirements of his business for use or sale by him for a reason ible time, or 
reasonably required to furnish necessaries producetl in surplus quantities 



104 



EKFKCTS or TllF. WAI.; Ll'HX Ai ;HUr I. TCUE 



seasonally throughout tlu- jieriod of scant (.r no production, or ic) withheld, 
whether by possession or under any contract or arrangement. Ironi the mar- 
ket b> any person for the purpose of unreasonably increasing or diminishing 
tlie price; I'roiUlcJ, That this section shall not include or relate to transac- 
tions on any exchange, board of trade, or similar institution or place of 
business as described in section thirteen of tins act that may be permitted 
by the President under tlic authority conferred upon liim by said section 
thirteen; I'roiidcd, /luici-cr. That any accuniuiatiiiH yr uitbhulding by any 
farmer or gardener, cooperative association of farmers or gardeners, includ- 
ing live Ntiick farmers, or any other person, of the products of any farm, 
garden, or utlier land owned, leased, or cultivated by liim shall not be deemed 
to be hoarding within the meaning of this act. 

Sec. 11. That the President is authorised from time to time to p.lrclla^o, 
to store, to provide storage facilities for. and to sell for cash at reasonable 
prices, wheat, tlour, meal, beans, and potatoes; VroiidcJ. That if any mini- 
mum price shall have been theretofore fixed, pursuant to the provisions of 
section fourteen of this act, then the price paid for any such articles so pur- 
chased shall not be less than such minimum price. Any moneys received by 
the United States from or in connection with the di'iposal by the United 
States of nece-saries under this section may, in tlie discretion of the Presi- 
dent, be used as a revolving fund for further carrying out the purposes of 
this section. .\ny balance of such moneys not used as part of such revolv- 
ing fund -hall be covored into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. 

( ithcr sections oi the act ,u;i\e the 1 rcs.acnt power to limit and 
rct;nlatf or prevent speculation or nianiptilation of price-, and to 
prescribe the limitali(iii< within which hoard- "t' trade nr -iiiiilar 
orj^anizations may act. To i^uar.antce .i price lor wheat, for 
periods not to exceed ei-hteeii months, which will in-uie pro- 
ducers a rea-onalile profii. an ;ih-ohite .guarantee of Si i « ) a 
bushel for the I'U.S whe.it crop was provided. 

Xo f. oil, food materials, or feeds should after thirty days be 
used ill the ni.anuf.aci 're of di-tilled liinior. l'"urthcrmorc the 
President is authorized to limit the amount of alcohol permitted 
in tlie manulact!v.-e of malt or vinou- linuo'-s or even to prohibit 
their m,i!iiii;ictiire. 

The President was authorized to take over and. run in the inter- 
est of the public any factory, plant or packin<j house. 

These are broad, far-reachinj;, fiindatnental iiower.- -luh as 
have never been orranted to ;iiiy otlur l're-i<Knt. 

The first act of the I'resident in puttin.t: the new jiro-ram into 
effect was the ap[)oiniment of .Mr. Ib.over a- i'ood Adniinistra- 



THE UNITED STATES 



105 



tor. In contrast with the highly centralizi-d organization of the 
Department of Agriculture, the Food Aclniinistration was organ- 
ized with a central grouji lor dcterniinnig policies l.ul with local 
State Food Adnunibirators tor putting the policies into elfect. 
The State Food Administrators in turn work through county 
Food Administrators, and recently below the county organiza- 
tions in manv places, municipal and township Councils of Detense 
carrv the work of the Food .\dministration to the people in a per- 
sonal and neighl.orly manner. By this means there is almost no 
feeling that the restrictmns are imposed by autocratic power from 
abovL\ Ihe series of admini-tralurs are shown the reasonable- 
nes> of the requests and they in turn explain the case Xo their 
friends and neighbor, bv ^^\u.]^ mean, a suhdarity of purpose, a 
mutual understanding, is built up such as could hardly result irom 
the workings of a centralized department with its agents coming 
into cummmiities Imm the oiitMde. and t.iking -rders from a di- 
stance. .\gain. a source of strength to the Food A.lininistraiinu 
is'the fact that it is composed almw-t altogether from Mr. Hoover 
down to town-hip ot^ficials. of unpaid workers. 

Mk. Hoover's Policies 

In his llrst statements to the p'lblic. Mr. Hoover made his 
policies plain. He declared that: 

We can not and we do not wish. will, onr free institutions and our large 
reMmro.s of food, to imitate Europe in it- policed rationnii:. l^nt we must 
xoUmtarilv and intellmentl.v assume the responsibility belore us as one m 
which every one has a direct and inescapable interest' 

It seemed unwise to sav to the .\nierican people that they 
should at e.nce come to a rationing basis. Mr, Hoover made 
it clear that the main f.wds needed for export were wheat, dour.^ 
beef pork .and dairv products, ^et tliesf \.-ere the mainstays ot 
regular diet with most Americans. The plan was to depend 
mainly on the xoluntary cooperation of the people to bring the 
desired results to pass. 

The Foo.l .\dihinistrati.,n and its work may be considered un- 

> U. S. Food .\dniinistration. Bulletin X.i 6. 



II 



ym 



106 



KI'l'ECTri 01" Mil. WAR L TiiN Ai ;KICri.TfKE 



(lev i'"ur hcaiU: ( irijani/aiioii, (.'nn-LM xatinn. (.'otitrol and T-.n- 
1' •rcfiiiLMit ' 

Okcani/aiion" 
The orjijani/atinn ha- lii.cii ik'^crihi-d in hniad outliiu- almvc. 
It con>ists of : 

I. Tlu' federal I'ood Adiiiini-iralinii, rf^])(h;>ililc in the I'rcsi- 
deiit. 

II. .^tate I'iMid .\dniiiii>trator> in all Stales, rcspmi-ihle tu the 
federal I'("i<l .\dnnni>irator. 

Working witii ihe federal I'ood .Xdnnnistrator are over a thou- 
sand persons. These are gronped into various units, havint^ 
charge of speeilk lines of wnrk. pmniinem :iniiiii^ v.liieh is home 
economics, having charge nf ijuestioiis of dietetics, the ec^'iioin- 
ical u>e of foods, cooking and canning recipes, a- so tm. (3ne 
of the first suhordinatc organizations was the < .i,i..i Corporation 
fi'r the purchase of wheat, tlour, heans. and other such supplies 
for the Allies ami for the government. This corporation \v;ts 
given a capital of $50,000,000. .\ " I'.air Price" ("nmmittee 
was aj)p"mted to determine what oiiuht to lie the price of wheat 
during the reniainder of the year 1917 IS. There i-^ a Me.it 
Divi-ion, ;i Meclrmical Department for Milling, a dr.iin Tlire-h- 
ing Divivinn. a i "mmittee >>n Mi'k rroiluction and Con^umptinn. 
^ilanv committees are formed for specilic dutie-; which may he 
])erf. irmed withm ;i few weeks and the occa-^ion f'lr the cotUinua- 
iKin cf the committee cease. Such \\a-~ the ca~e with the ( nm- 
niittee on the Cost of Sugar I'.eet Troduction. .\ very important 
function is perfonned hy the Advisory Committee of .\gricul- 
tnral and Live Stnek Pnulucers. Thi^ committee was appointed 
in the spring of I'^IS, and consist? of twenty-five lea<ling farmer-, 
farm organization representative;, and agricultural college men. 



CoN'SEkVATIOX 

Several weeks before the jjassage of the Kood Administration 
Bill. Mr. Hoover, who h.ad heen a^ked hy the President to become 

> Enforcement is in tlie nature of police duty and is not lure di';cuf«cd. 



THE LNiniD STATES 



107 



the Food Administrator in case the l)iil should be pas^ed, an- 
nounced his pnlicv wuh re^pect lo food conservation and the rela- 
tion of the Adinuiivirator to the people of the country in that re- 
gard. Ills views are expressed in " Five Cardinal Frnicipfc ' ; ' 

I'lrst That the f -vl problem is one of wise a^lniiiustration and not ex- 
pressed by the ^^ora. " d,ct,,tor " or "controller" but "food admnustrator. 

Second That this administration can be largely carr.e.l out throuRh tlie 
coordination and retaliation of the existing k-.-itunate distributive agei.ae. of 
the producers, distributers, and consumers. 

Third. The organization of the community for voluntary conservation ot 

foodstulTs. 1 1 u 1 t;u„ 1 M-.tVi 

Fourth. That all important positions, so far as may be, shall be tilled NMth 

"i-'if'"'' The independent responsibility of the Food Administration directly 
under the President, vvith the cooperation of the great and admirable organ- 
i.atu,n of the Department of .\criculture, the Department of Commerce, the 
1-cderal Trade Commission, and the railway executives 

I conceive that the essence of all war administration falls into two pha-es; 
First. Centralized and single respouMbi'ity. , , , . ,■,.„ 

Second. DelesatioM of this responsibility to deccntrah.-od admimstrative 

organs. 

The actixe accomplishment of the eonservation policy was to 
he earned into etlect l.y one of two methods : voluntary, or should 
that fail, compulsory. 

The eompulsorv method has been in vogue m Furope, partic- 
ularly in the Ceniral Monarchies, almo^t from the beginning ot 
the war It is also in vogue to a le.>er extent in the countries ot 
the Mlies. It was Mr. Hoover-s plan at the first to proceed 
almost entirely on the volunteer basis, believing that as readily as 
tieople could be made acquainted with the necessity ot the case 
thev would conform to the requots of the Administration. 
Wliile tliere have been some modifications of this general plan, it 
i^ .till fnr the most part, the ba*is of the work of the conserva- 
tion actnallv in practice and it is getting results. Th. outstand- 
ing exceptions to the voluntarv plan of conservation are those ot 
the wheat and sugar cor.trol, discussed below. It would be almost 
impossible to administer an effective, compulsory, rationing sys- 

1 Food .AdminiMration. Bulletin No. 1, p. 8. 
"-Ihid.. p. 11, 






108 



ia-i-KCT> oi- lui: WAR iiniN Ai.KU n.i ri;i. 



icm ul a coinprt'hciiMvi' kind in thi> country \'<v >cvlm-,i1 reasons. 
In ilie I'lr^t place, liali nl our pedplt arc rural, a tliirtl a.cuially uu 
Ktrni-. I he ,i;reat -iiarc t)t tin- portiMU of tlie p.ipulauon have 
first-hand accc" in a larj;e part ot the loixl >iil'l>ly, and culd use 
It in -pite I.I ;in\ rules ot the t;ovcrnnicnt were they so di-po.-ed. 
The food which i;oes throni^h .some process ot inanulacture, >uch, 
for example, as su<;ar, lends itself to control \ery easily in com- 
parison with poultry, eggs, potatoes, or even meat, all kinds con- 
sidered. It was then upon voluntary conservation that the Food 
Administration decided to put its main dependence. The lead- 
ing e.\ccption> to this are the instances of virtual compulse y liin 
nations put upon the consumption of sugar and flour. T he meth- 
ods of carrying the voluntary conservation into effect have been 
mainly two : 

(a) C'oo[)eration of e^talili-hcd ;igencies. 

(hi Direct ajipeal to tiie coii-unie*-.' 

Coo/^cratiiiii (i/ I'.s: •■ I .U/riicirs 

The Food .\dministration has worked through every po-sihle 
e-talilished means of reaching the people, creating the State tood 
administrations as an intermediary. The leading organizations 
coordinated m this work are the following; 

1. State food administrations 

2. Trade organi;^ations and commercial concertis. 

3. Educational institutions, 

4. Women's orgaui/ations. 

5. Libraries. 

6. Religious and fraternal organizations. 

7. Hotels and restaurants. 

8. Transportation compatiies. 

The State rood .Idininistriitioiis of each State are re-pon-ible 
to the State's administration division of the federal Food .Xdmiii- 
istration. and cc^-nects the feileral authorities with the State and 

1 The ilisciission of these two topics is hascii mainly on Cnnsennliox ii" t 
A'.-cii/iKKTit in the Vntli-d Slates dunnj; the World War. p. /Off. Charles K. 
Van }\\ic. 



THE INITKl) STATE^ 



109 



,„untv Cnuncils of PefcHe. The State Food A.l nny-trator .. in 
ncarlv all ca^cs the e.nlK.lnnent of auihoruy to all the people o 
the ^tate OccaMonallv there ., a .hrecl appeal to the le.leral 
l.o.d Admnu-tratu.i,, a.jn the ca.e ot the nnlk n.-.ce que^i.on, 
duriiii,' the wintei ot 1'>17-1S.. . . , , 

Tnulc 0'-<j.nu^at,o>is. The tra.le or-a,u/at,on. dealms pn- 
nnnlv i.i loo.l materials almost at oiiee took an interest m the 
areat'cmest.ons of food conservation and very generally mani- 
fested a desire to make themselves useful. Grocers' urbaniza- 
tions repre^ent.n.u approximately 360,000 indivi.luals agreed to 
lend their aid. Kepre-entatives of lln-e organizations adopted 
the following resolutions; 

(\^ We ^vil1 «hoihcr l.ccnscd or nrt. cooperate with the Tnitcl States 

Fond .\>!,mni^tra.>on ,n every way pos^.ble to ..isure the en.orcenH-nt of its 

"les and reg..lat:ons and the suecess of its conservat.on rl-.s. and dc...r 

o the consumers of the United States the necess,„es of h.e ns cheaplv a. 

;,„;,.:, "i!n c. peer to do, We w.U earneMlv and vt.oronslv recomn.end 

ill other retail grocers to v»^<w this course steadlnftly, , , , 

(2) We recoLend th,.t ret,-.,l grocers d.scontmue the ^ohct.ns of orders 

"T^'w^r::— ;X hn,itation or a,. de,iver,es to one a day to any one 

^^7;;^>"nn:::.^:h" under cond.t.ons and ,n ,oca„t,e. .here it is 
f. .ihle the cooperative SN Mem of delivery be I mplosed, 

''■;; Ue .r« all rotaders and the.r CerU. to concentrate the.r efforts ,n 
selhn. wholesome and nutritious suhstnutes for white flour and meat 

6, We recommend that the retailer, use their e. orts to sell articles o 
f. d tht are cheap vet of good quality in the place ot high price staples, and 
tt; in doS fo ihev be g'ded bv the recommendations of the Conservation 

^rr'ut';^^:; in::^:r:: in the conduct o; an retail grocerv 
n- hod 'o tlfe end that time, energy, fuel, equipment and men mav h on- 
Tened and that the wholesome food may he pl-ced ,n the hands of con- 

^"::^ W^;::— ^"h:;";!::;:;: throughout .,. country and their as^- 

■ LIl " ate and national, cooperate to the fullest extent with the 

llX;^.:'^ ■ V i-trat,on and that thev immediatelv express ,he.r 

p.^ioV'ot^io bv communicating direct with the .-Ndmmistrat. .i m U ash- 

'"Tq" We express our appreciation of the support that ha= been gnen the 
fold'co . r n n work In the trade paper, of the coui,tr> and earnestly 
olit lei^ continued cooperation with the Food .Xdmmistration, 






*a 



-:»! 



no 



EITECTS VV 'll'l-: WAR llii.N ACUICULTL'KE 



(,10) \Vt recoiiiinciul tliat al! retail uroci-rs asMst in liio potato campaign 
of the louJ Adniiiiistration by urging the ^alc■ ol that coniiiioiiit\ thi^ si-asun. 

(11) We urge that all food products where po>sible be sold by ueight m 
reasonably large quantities and for casli. 

(\2) We rceon-.iueiid that all retailers urge thi' sale ot such items as small 
prunes, commcal. oatmeal, nee. hominy, and similar articles in bulk. 

(13) We ask all retailers to urge the sale of such articles as soup stock 
and materials peas rice, barlev. fresh vegetal)les and 1-' .i and eaiuied eo\e 
oysters. 

(14 1 To the end that the country's industries and their worker- may be 
maint.Tuied at tlie greatest eflicieucy, and that any unreasonable profits or 
speculation in food staples may be eliminated, we pledge ourselves to the 
L'nited States (lov eminent not to sell any of the fundamental necessities (as 
announced by the President uf the United States in his Licensing Proclama- 
tion of October 8. 1917) at a margin of prol'it over the delivered cost to the 
merchant that will yield to him more than a reasonable living profit, irre- 
spectue of tlie market conditions at time of resale; and we pledge ourselves 
to urge other grocers, whetlier under tlie licensing plan or not, to the end 
that margins of profit by retail grocers throughout tlie country over tlie cost 
to them shall not be greater than prevail under nonu.d conditions. We urge 
that each retail grocer act individually, and tliat he sell the staple foods at 
no greater profit than is reasonable in accordance with their cost, and his 
individual cost of doing business, as sanctioned by tlie United States Food 
Administration. 

(15) We earnestly urge the members and officers ol every association of 
retail grocers as well as individual grocers in their respective communities 
to advocate the-e principles persistently in 'Ivir local associations and to 
other retail grocers of the country in tliis grave national crisis when our 
country needs us most, that they may not fail vigorously to uphold tlic needs 
of the government and to do their utmost towards a speedy and triumphant 
conclusion of our war ag.uust (ierni.iny. 



Likcwist- caiincr,-, linkers, iiiaiiu facmre-r.'^, an ' ^inliIar grmips 
dealing in any in;inncr with iiiiulstull ai^rccil t.) conjicratc with 
tlic govfrnniunt. 

luluciitional Institutions. The scliouls ha\e been u.-ed to c;(iim1 
advantage irmii the beginning of tlie coii.servaliun program. 
C()urses of reading ha\e been proxiiled lor elementary and sec- 
ondary schools umler the title: "Lessons in Coniniuniiy ;md 
National Life." The [ilan i^ t<: make these lessons be.-ir directly 
on conservation but at the -ame time to embody in them broad 
principles of citizensliij) 

Conserv.'it'' .11 work i,\ the hitdier educational institutions was 



Till-: I Nlliai >rATK: 



111 



or-uni/c.l l.v Prcsi.kMU X'an ll.^c ni tlu^ Iniv.rMty m W i^cn.ni. 
aiul iiKlu.k-^ lecturer en " I un-.T.;r .n ai.l Kc-ulau..n. 'V 
PrcMdcnt Van ll,>c. •' l...M.n> ,,n 1 .. .1 Cn,„matu,n, !■> t he 
l)q,artn.cnt of Agriculture an.l th. i-o,! A.lnunistrati,.n, " Ik- 
crea.c-.l ImhkI IVoductm,,.- I.y the Ikpartiuciu ut Agriculture 
ami " Fuel ( n,i>ervalinn," l.v l'n.l\->nr L. 1'. ISreckenrulge. 

llouuHS Uruani.ati.'us. The uork .,l tlu-e urgani/almns is 
un.ler the general .iirectmn of the Xatmual Cunc! m Deteu^e 
and uuuKMhatelv m charge of Hr. Anna llnuar.l Shau, i hese 
organi/alion>. coordinated, have been al.le to reach the greater 
number of the Nvouien nf the country in institutes and demonstra- 
tion gatherings, and nearly all of them in M.hcitat.m to observe 
the food pledge card. . 

/ ilmvics. The libraries of the country have been enlisted t-r 
help in food conservation. To them are ^ei.t liMs of loo.l con- 
servation publicati.Mis from which they may order literature suit- 
able for their needs. They make displays of posters, and adver- 
tise articles and books on their bulletin boards. 

Rrli.iious oiul I-ratcnu,l Onjanicatums. Almost without ex- 
ception these organization, have responded to the reipiest that 
thev aid in the campaign. The different bodies have met sepa- 
ratelv and decide,! to go into the work systematically. Ministers 
verv'generallv liave explained the foo.l situation to their congre- 
gations. The diti'erent churches have appointed representatives 
t'o join the staff of the Food .\dministration and so keep their 
demonstrations in touch with the general plans. The r'bgious 
pre- maintain, a bulletin service in Washington m order to 
keep in close touch with the available information. Prob.ably 
half of the people of the country are reached directly through the 
churches and fraternal societies. 

Hotels and Rcshiurants. The hotels, restaurants, <l,mng car 
managements and other organizations serving fo.ul have very 
largelv cooperated with the Vood A.lministratior m carrying its 
plans 'into effect. Meatless and whcatless days have been ob- 
served bv these .organizations an<l it is this aid which has con- 
tributed largelv to their success. 






11-' 



El-'KECrS CIF I 111; \\ AK ri'iiN ACKH ri.TL'UK 



'ri\iiisl^<'ytiiti.'ii I .'////'(Di/V.;. 'I'lic iraii-iinrt.-itmn L-dnip-iim-N 
v(.T\ iiiMii'pllv uiiikTt.ick U> incci the ir>mg situatiuii l.rnii-ht 
ahoul \n iIk' \\ar. A lai-^c part ><\ ilu'ir w^rk at (Mice l)ccanie 
war udik. Uv-ular traltic had m ^uc ua\ tu the ciiKT''OiK-y 
work Hi' tlu- -.AtTiiinciit. It ua> oI.mou-. tliit tin- dcL-i-iims re- 
!,'icclin,i4 till' iiri.nii\ ni >hipuiciu of clitYi.Tcm cla->c> of goods 
ciiiild not \\i-'ll !'<-■ l>-'it to i!k' jiul;^niicnt oi tin- many railroads. 
Auaiii. It \\a> con-i)Kiioti>ly true tliat tiu- i;rc;it miinlior of roads 
were not woikm.t; a-< a unit in accomplishing the tjreat ta-k of 
in(.>vin.L; the freight and pa^-etif^ers of the country. (. oii>ei|nently 
on lanuarv 1. I'MS. the federal i;overnnv;,» took over the rail- 
road management entire. Later the expre-s and teV-,i;raph ImM- 
nesses were taken in e!iar,L;e hy the go\ enimetit. The bulk of 
the work pertain- directly to StaU" liu-iiie>> ami welfare, and 
for that rea-on it has seemed \\i~e to handle it throu-h the State, 
".y thi- mean- thc-e responsible for the government decide what 
shall lie done. 



'Yin 
I'Uinia 



effectiveiie-s of the whole con-erv;"ion program depend, 
hiced on the great mass of individm 



lei 



\ on the eftect :iro( 



consumers. especiall> upon the e 



t'fect prochiced on the women, in 



hands the execution 



)f the food coiiservaiii-in plans ulti- 



latelv lies. 



I'he direct appeal is being maile by means ot 

1. \'isual instructieiti 

2. -\ speaking campaign 
,^. .\ personal canvass 



pe 



I 



ISIUI 



4. Cooperation ot the press. 
/ histnictioii. 'ihe l)ei)artment of .Xgriculture in it- 



campaign for proi 



Uiction ha- issued over 



.OOO.OtX) food leaf- 



lets.^ The Food Administration has issued almost numberlc-s 
leaflets and poste-s appealing to people to save food. In the 



moving p 



cture theaters slides an 



tms are in constant use ex- 



trntion, Riilletin N'" 1- 

■ il'cAlv .Vi-tci l.,-tt,-r. July 17, 1918. 



1 I'ond Adminis 



'1 



TIIK I NllKO STATICS 



113 



plannuK the fun,l si.uatum a.ul callm- upnn the people to h^e up 
toiheieMinrenu'it. ,.1 the l-n.,,! A.hnim.iniunn. 

.S>.„W.,y C\,wM,n. Kepre^oualue, „> the l-u.„l A,hnuuMr.- 
,„„;„,„1 the l)epa,-ueu, -t Agr,cuhure have gone ahnut mer 
the canury achhe^M,,^ all manner ,., au.henee>, sume called n- 
,ether for the M-ecUic purpose, a.ul n>a..y n,eetn,« prunanl> tor 
;.,la.r i.urpo.e>. Se^eral .lean> o, a.r.eukural eolleKc, have 
„,cn >o en,plove<l, hkewne teacher, n, hnnie ecnom.cs. and 
other, nn.cdlaneou.ly chosen for the .erv.ce. A large nun.he 
of local speakers, calle.l - four n.uuue men, ' have been .Iralte.l 
,or pnbhcuv service and appeal. The " lour nnnute n.en are 
a number of men in every citv and town f tiie country who ap- 
pear at theater., moving picture performance^, lau-. and otucr 
Uthermo, ,,f people m con>i<lerable ntmibers. an.l m ab(,ut tour 
™tes.gnetalk>on,hei..ucsofthewar. h . the purpose 
to pre.ent in this manner topic on which the general pubbc ....uL 
be thn.kin,' and acting. .\ wi.le range of stibject. ,s tabulated, 
am' -n manv mstances ntodel four minute speeches arc pre- 
pared bv the' Food Admini-^tration and the Department ol Agn- 
culture,\vhich the speakers adapt to the nee.l of thetr respective 
communities. , 

l\rso,uiI Onirass. .\fter all there is tv.thmg that take, the 
place of the pergonal appeal. Thi. was not neglected. It was 
put into operation through the women's clubs clutr.hes. schools, 
and other orgam^^ations. P-y this means, a very large proportion 
of the housewives of the country were visited an.l enlnte.l m the 
.pechc work oi saving spoonfuls, and cupfuls an.l .ntnces and 
pounds of food. U is Iw this detailed method that such savings 
as have been made were acomplished. and are being accom- 
plished i: ach housekeeper was asked to sigti a pledge card ancl 
display it showing that she was complying with the requests ot 
the ood Admini-tration 

Cool^cration of Ihc Press. The press has been literally filled 
iih matter concerning the work of food conservation and pro- 
duction While no doubt a large number of mdu.dual pul)lica- 
tions could l>e found which have not lent their aid, the response 



u 



i'mii 



114 



EFFECTS OF 1111. \\ \i; I I'l'N Acunri.TrKr; 



li:i-. lici-ii >.i gtiKTal that llic " -lackiTs " ui ilii- kiiul arc imt 
conspicuous. 

It was u•l■tl,^IH/^.■(l 111 iIk- 1 ."h1 A-liuiiu^tralinii Act that .sniiie 
means more effcciuc ilian VMliintai\ (.nopciatHUi ucrc likely lu 
Ik.- iiecilfd In lian.llinK llie l'""l MtuaUun. I'rovisioii \\a> nia.lc 
ti.r control of an aulhoritatu t- charaUcr over many i)ha>es of 
the case. Control is a ^uiipleiiH-nt to vnliint.iry >avini; to he 
lived as the latter i- fouiul nKulei|uate. W ith a view of control 
tlie President is -iieeiticaily eni])o\\ered to reqinMlion food, fuel, 
etc., to hceii>e "the ini|)ort:itii.ii, niannfacture. -^tora^'c, niininj,% 
or distribution of any neccssa -ies." He may even purchase and 
resell wheat, tlour, meal, lieans and potatoes. Thus the Presi- 
dent is given a vast amount of authority over the food supplies 
of the counirv. In several important instances, this .-luthority is 
lieint; exercised. 

The leadinj; lines of effort pert.iiniuL: at all directly to aijricul- 
ture which iiavc thu> far heen undertaken within the fielil ol con- 
trol are: 

1. The licensing of middlemen. 

2. The lixiiig of prices and price ratios. 

■S. .\id tn conciliation with respect to prices. 

4. Tile limitation of prolits. 

5. Prohiliition of certain industries and traile practices. 

I'lider the second of these topics is discussed some price ques- 
tions in which the Food .\dministration iicteil the part ot a con- 
ciliator onlv. .-IS in the case of milk price disputes. In other cases, 
.-is th.it of liuttcr the sfitiuLr i^f ^ pri^'i-* was virtuallv onlv liniit- 
Iw'j: pr. .tit-. Incidcnlaliv, certain tr.ade jiractices were prohibited, 
for inst.ance sijcculatioii. 

Licrnsiiifi 
One of the most important means of controlling the businesses 
pertaining to agriculture is through the issue of a license to the 
men who handle the goods. When :in anuouucemeiit is made to 



1,11, I M HI) STATES 



113 



the effect tint :i Riven uroup "' '"«" or busmc<ses are to he 
lieenscd. lu. uue nuiv, alter a .pecfied lai.se of tnne. c.nuinue in 
the IniMness alTecte.l u.thoul a lu-.n>e The hcense itseit puts 
an ohl.KniH.n npnn ihc hun~.. uIkt.I.v he nn.st make reports 
as to his acts, an.l inn-t a^ree iiu.ler penahy in case of failure, 
toliveuptothe.kMiiamisof the l-n.M A.lm.ni-iratmn. 

It is verv (lifticiill to give in few wor.ls the classes ..t husi- 
nesses subjected m luen>e. in the main, it may he saul that pm- 
ducers of agricultural products, and the great majnnty ot tht re- 
tailers of food commodities are not to he licensed. Retailers 
whose hu-iness amounts to $10().0(X) a year may he h --nsed. All 
uianuiacturers of food cmmodities, cold storage, warehouse. 
cl.nator,, m.NiiiLr. P-ukinj:. wholesaling, and distrihutmg com- 
panies doing more than a certain amount .^f husiness, are required 
to take ..nt'hcenses. These general rules have been nio.hfied to 
r„ ,i,e iMohk-ms as thov have arisen Thus, while retailers are 
not requirc.l to take out licenses covering their c;enernl hiismcsscs, 
thev h.ive hcen put under surveillance with respect to the >ale ot 
ll,,ur and sni,'ar since the time »heu the contP 1 of the- comnvxli- 
ties could no longer he safelv left to the consciences of the dealers 
and consumers. Their hooks are inspected from tune to time in 
order to sec how much of the conimo.litirs in question is hemg 
handle.l. Tustructi^ its are furnished them hv the Foo,l \dmims- 
tratiou In this manner thev are treated much as th-Migh thev 
were operating un.ler a license, hut in a less fnrmal wav. and 
with.uit the specific legal penaltv for failure to cont.-rm to the 

rules. ., ... 

A <levice which seems verv effective in h.Tling retailers withm 
hounds i. that of puhlishiu- at frequent intervals t.ahles showing 
what retailers pay for good., and what consumers sh.uild pay tor 

the same.' 

Dealers in farm implement^ are un.ler license. 1 arnurs have 
made two complaints; tirst. that m.achinerv .and repairs for the 
same were not ohtainahle promptlv or in snfticient quamitics; 
second, that the prices charged were unreasonahlv high. ,\ re- 

iFood .■\dmini=tr3tion. f.^lctin Xo 100?. .I,nni;aiT 7. V-'X?.. 



EKFECTS OK Mil; WAK II'ON AGKICL I.TLRE 



(lUfst (.aim.' Hum the i.iiiiier> that an iiivi.>:i^;aiuin br iiiaik,' 
llic license makes it possible lur the 1-ood Administration to 
fiiul out the real Ikims oI tlic complaint and to limit prolits. 

L p to l)tccmlH.-r i"^. IV'ir, tlieic had Ucii issued 07,3J5 licenses 
co\ennK elevators, mill.-, sugar dealers, general commodity dcal- 
er-<, and baker-, simc that time bi.tli ilic -icpt- and tlk' iuiml>c-r '>i 
licenses has expanded greatly. 

The Fiximj of Prices mtd I'ricc A'a/i«'.< 

1 he 1 ood .\dmim>tratioii is given almo>t nnlimui-d pcwcr with 
respect to the uses and du' tran-pcrtation of ;ill maiuu-r ot foods, 
and feeds for live stock. It is directly i;raiUed in the ca<c of 
wheat, and has been extended, somewhat indirtitly to su.yar. 
The following quotation s die matter of the price making 
power of the I'ooil Ndiinni-i.ation in a clear light: ^ 

There appears to be a gooii deal ol misinformation circiil.ited among't the 
aorici.ltiiral conimiiiiity a* to the policv and scope of the Food .AJirini^tra- 
tion with ri'Iation to price fi.xing. 1 wish to say at once and emphatically, 
that the Food .Ndminmraticn is not a price fixing body except with ret;urd 
to certain commodities which arc today dominated by whollv abii'irinal o\er- 
veas commercial relations and the siirrouniling factors with re.ijard to which 
are such as to proiect great dangers both against the fanning comnvjnity and 
at the same time the consuming community. The two commodities under 
regulation are wheat and sugar. U itli the furtlier exception of ca'es in 
which it has int-rv'--' purely as a friendlv intermedary between organised 
producers and consi.:A.s — as in .ity milk — tlie exec .tive department of 
the government has no authority and no desire to fi.\ prices of products of 
agriculture. 

It seems necessary and desirable to restate tlie rea'oris already referred to 
by the President which render it necessary and possible to undertake control 
of the marketing of these two commodities. The cccnoiric forces arising 
out of the war. which ha\e necessitated this action, are in the main a- follows: 

1. .Ml of the overseas shipping in the world has been placed in govern- 
ment control and the volume of this shipping is much reduced. As a conse- 
quence there is no longer any free play in commercial c ver«eas tratBt a» the 
governments involved must designate what tonnage is to be assigned to each 
commoditv and each cinss ot tralTic 

2. Inasmuch as normal commercial overseas tratTic has broken down, it 



'Report of the Advisorv Committee of Agricultural and Li\c Stock Pro- 
ducers; see also iVtfkly .\Vh;i Lctur. ^uIv 2i 1Q18. 

-■ Food A<lministration Bulletin .No. /OO. February 2.-'. IVIS. 



THE I Nllt.1) MAN 



117 



«a, nccc.sarv for the AUuM f.overnmcnts >n Iu,r„pe to .ct up ""K «'"' « 
ior the purchase of the ^Iw.le of theu foo.l supphe^ from abroad. Of An.er.- 
cm wheat tl.c.r purcha.c^ are of suttic.ent voUnne to control the prue a.-J 
titiJ is the onl> .iBr.c.lt.iral co.nmod ly where th.s n.a.nta.n*. 

i n the face of a ..ece.sary duty .o re.h.ce o.,r consumption of food - 
,o b-idly needed bv the AIUo - .t ha, been absoh.tely necessary to arr.xe a 
^^.00 of these two conunoa,t,e, ,n the common u.,ere>t o, 'he -r -d 
'„ control the reduced >uppl.cs mternall>. >n order that all may be treated 
^,"1 rKh a.ul p..or- :.nd ih.s .mphes a control of d.,tr,bu„on and prue, 
A, stlt^d pracl^cally O.e on'y comn,od..,es as to wluch .he,e new ec-e.nom 
forces danKernuslv involve the United States are wheat and .ugar All con- 
measures are the less of ev.U. In wheat we were f. <^'» -"^^'-^ 
aeency who>e proportional- purchases to the total were such a, to do,., mate 
hir,. Anv relafonslnp w.th this agency by our omcals m '""'t'-B "-- 
n,erat,o,.s thus becomes absolutely price fixing, and .t becomes a, once a 
ieuo as ,0 whether .t should he done openly and frankly -«h our pro- 
TcmR con,mun.,y. or done secretly, at the wdl of governmot offic>aIs^ 
Fur,luruu,re. u, the ordu.ary course of our wheat nurkefus. the ^^^-^J^» 
,o the markets duru,« the first four months of the harvest year "<« J"""8 
,Ws period, were no amtml estabhshed w.th the Alhes and neutrals, .t would 
be etitirely possible for them to ex,x.rt from the United State, such a por,K,n 
of our wheat supplies as to leave our population short o. bread. It has 
therefore been necessary in the interests of the American consumer, that tl^ 
Rovernment shoni.l intervene to protect his supphes. Ak.iiu. in the face of 
This abnormal situation, the normal wheat marketinR machinery of the coun- 
trv was completely paralysed. To have attempte.l the normal course of mar- 
kaim- through the boar.ls of trade an.l exchanges, by whuh the bnvers o, 
VNheat protect their operations by sales of futures, involved a danwrous series 
of specuI..tious, nor did the exchanse- themselves wish to be tlie renters 
around winch such speculations should take place Every action of tlie Al- 
lied buyer, everv rumor of peace and thereby the liher..tion of ,he lar«e 
uheat supplies in Australia, every monthly shipment of wheat abroad in the 
.lepletion of national supplies, would have been the center of speculation ..nd 
,l,e cause of violent fluctuations in the exchanges, of the same character 
,l,at occurred .lurin« the las, five months of the 1916 harvest y"r. when 
althouRh the farmer bad marketed his wheat at an average of Jl.44 a bushel, 
the price, due to these very causes, at one time rose to over Jo m a bnsliel. 
and rtour to over $17.00 a barrel. 

The Control of J!'Ih\tt in I'ji; 
As wheat i> the ni..-t important aTc::! vicwcl fnmi tlic <t.aiKl- 
,K,i,u of huni.-m t.M.d. the first steps taken in tin- .lircction of 
food contn.l xvero with respect to the distrihuti-n and price ot 
that coninui(hty. 



.■fe, • 



lis 



ICriECTS OF Tllli WAR UPON AGKICL LTUKE 



Till- Grain Corporation. Some- funns of food control li.id 
been in operation in liurope for more than a year lufiire the 
Food Administration be^j^an the control of wheat in the L'nited 
States. The German experience with maximum prices could \v>\ 
be ponited to as entirely successful, lui^dand had n^t l.ccn aMe 
by a mere aimouncemciit to hold prices at a particular level. 
With this European experience at hand, the I'ood Administration 
wasted no time with a maximum price, but proceeded to institute 
complete control o\er liie machinery of marketing and at the 
same time to enter into the markets and become a buyer of wlvat 
as well. L'nder Section 11 of the Food A(hninistration .\ci, the 
President is authorized " to purchase, store, and sell . . . wheat, 
flour, meal, beans, and potatoes. "' In order to facilitate the pur- 
chase, storage, and sale of wheat, the President ordered the crea- 
tion of a corporation to be known :!> the Food Atlministration 
Grain Corporation with a capitalization oi $50,000,000," all of 
the .stock of which was to be owned by the l'nited States. This 
corporation with headi|uaners at .\'ew ^'ork ha-- buying agencies 
at fourteen important terminal markets throughout the United 
States.- Wheat is iionglit at the terminals from the regular c "i- 
mission men, and i-; <old m millers for ilomc'^iic consumiitMn, 
and for export. 

The Price Committee. As soon as the Grain Corporation was 
formed to Iniy and sell wheat, tiie question of price canio iinnie- 
diatelv to the front. With the Grain Corporation in virtual con- 
trol (jf the demand fur wlitat, ready to buy the entire croii, if 
necessarv, it became imperative that the juice be t.Ncd .and that 
this fixed price be maintained throughout the year to prevent the 
withholding of wheat from the tiiarket in an attempt to force the 
prices up. .\ccordinglv a Committee on Prices was appointed by 
the Presidvnt to dcterniine a f.iir jirice at wliuh grain -hould lie 
purchased bv the ,L;o\erninvnt. This I'onimiltee was selcctc! 

' Bv order of the President, June Jl. l')18. the Food .\dmi)ii>tratioii was au- 
thorised to increase the stock hv $1(JO.OOO.OOO as need should arise. Weclih 

\\--is Utter, jiiiv i. vnn. 

-Sec I'.r.lletin issued I'v the United States Fonrl .Administration, 1 iron. her 
1, 1917— rolkics and I'liiii of Ol'eratioii. 



THE UNITED STATES 



110 



iiv,ni men roprc-cnting both consumers and producers from du- 
lerent bcclions of tlic country as can he seen from the list.' 

TItc Price FixctL A tter deliberating two weeks the committee 
recommended, August MK to the I're.ulent that the pr.ce at which 
the Cram Corporation should purchase uhtat be placet! at S2.20 
l„r No. 1 Xurtiiern Spring wheit or its equivalent at Chicago. 
The Grain Corporation declared the following grade., equivalent 
to Xo. 1 Northern: 

No. 1 ■ iard \\'inter 
No 1 Ked W inter 
Xo. 1 Durum 
No. 1 Hard White. 

'rhe>c aU took the ha.ic price, $2.20 at ( hicago. 



The Grain Corporation 



had determined the differentials to 



to the other grai 



difference in 
marke 



les and markets taking into account the 



the quality of wheat and th 



le relation o 



f tl 



le various 



n Chicago 
wheat at several important terminals lot 
crop : 



The following table shows the price ot 
both the 1917 and 1918 



I The Coiuiiultcc on 1 ricfs con^i^te^l of: ,...,,. ,r 

Prcllum llarrv .\. GartHld, W ilha.n. ColleKC. W ill.ani.town. Mass. 
Ch-ifle-; J Barrett, Union City. Ga.. PrCMacnt 1-arimrs Lmnn. 
\\ iHiam N r oak! Ro.-inoke, Va.. Vkc President Brotherhood ol Railway 

"^"'"Jcne'F i'-unk. BloominRton. lit, Pr..,.k.u National Corn .\ssoci,ttion. 
Edwant I--. Ladd, Fargo, X. P.. Pre^uknt North Dakota .\pncultnral Col- 

'"11: Goodwirt Rhett. Charlo.t.ni, S. C. President Ch.imber of Commerce of 
the ^^;;.'"^',^f;f,;;,]^ y,,^^ ^cb . Secretarv National Council of Farmers' Co- 

""HmJ^'w^^liiv" Brooklvn. X. V.. Xmcncan Fe.Ieration of Labor, 
i' I Tihor Barnesville. Ohio, Master Ohio State GranKe 
Krink W. Tai.sMR. \V,-,vl,inctnn, D. C. Ch.nirman ledcral TantT Commis- 

'■ Theodore N'. Vail, New York Ct^, Pr.Mdent ot .he N. F,. Tcleubone and 
'^'^l^'l^^l yh.h.mn. Kans. President Knn.„s State A^.icultural 
CoUeRe. 



m 



■fsa 



IJO 



EFFECTS OK THE WAK UI'iiN AGRICULTCKE 



1918 



1917 



New York .... 
l'liil.u!i-l|iliia . . 

lialtiuMrc 

.Niwiiort Ntw^ 

Dulutli 



$.'.395 

_'..i9 

2..5875 

2.3875 
2.225 

.Minneapolis 2.215 

(.liKaso 2.26 

St Louis 2.-4 

Kansas City 2 18 

Omaha 2.18 

New Orleans 2.-8 

Galveston 2 28 

Seattle 

PortLand .220 

San Francisco I 

Los Angeles J 



New York ... 
I'liilaililiilua . 
lialtnnore .... 
Newport News 
Uiiliith 



2.-/ 

2.27 

2.27 

_ 2.17 

Minneapolis 2.17 



ChicaK 



2 20 



St, Louis 2.)8 

2,1.1 

', 2 1.i 

New Orleans 2 2U 



Kansas City 
Omaha 



("lalveston . . . . 

Seattle 

I'ortlaniJ . . . . . 
San iTancisi-'o. 
Los .\nHclcs . 



2.20 
2.05 

2 05 
2.10 

2.10 



Exchanijcs Suspend. 'l"he next step toward complete -uiitrol 
over wheat distrihuiioii and price wa>; taken wlicii tlie yrain ex- 
changes were recjiiested to su^peiul. duiiiii: the perind oi the war, 
all tmuie trading in wheat. By .Section l.> of the l-i i"d Control 
.Act the President was vested with tin-; ])ower. This rej^ulaimn 
oecanie effective Septeml>er 1. and the ( irain Corporation hej;an 
operation-; .^epteniher 4 m the terminal market-. To prevent 
lurther speculation. withholdiii.L: from the market, or hoardin.ix. 
the right of st(M-agc of wheat nr n.mr was limited to thirtv day;, 
and miller- were prohihiied frcin c> ■ntractiiit: fnr the -ale i>t tlour 
for more than thirty days in advance. These regulations 
coupled with the licensing of elevators, millers, and other dealers 
in wheat, gave the i'nod .Adniini-tr.-itimi ('.rain ( 'nrporatiim com- 
plete control of the di-tnluition of thi- commodity a^; it c:ime 
into the market-. 

I'licc Maintained. !'y this ah-iilnle control o\er the -upplv 
of wheat as it came into the market the Grain Corporation ha- 
lieen ahle to maintain effectively the piice< which were '-et at 
the beginning of the crop year, h'n'm the demand '^iiie the con- 
trol i.s practicallv complete as the drain Corporation has an 
agreement with the .\llic-; whereby the-e countries will purchase 
all of the wheat delivere.l at onr s(.;ilio;ird and iilaced at their 
disposal at the e-tahli-hcd jirice.' The ( irain Corporation hke- 

» See Fnofl .-NHniinistration P.nllitin. Dcccnilier 1. 1"17. /','/, i,-.c and t'hnt 
i>i OpcraKoii. 



Till-: l-Nni.U STATES 



121 



uise lu^ llic pnw.r to i,urd.a>. all nf the xvhcat vcc■c.^c.l at the 
luarkcl- il iK-CL'>-ary tn iiuuiitain tliL' pncc. 

llavuiK e^tabl,she.l tl.e ba^.c price oi tins co.mnu.h.y the KooJ Admin.s- 
,rat...n has tolloued .t through the n,a.u.faai.rn.« and d.str.hut.ng trades 
::,^ lnnnat,o.,s as to ,l>e prcUs to be earned .n d.str.bufon and ha, thereby 
brought th,s pnn.e connnod.ty to the door of the ounsumcr at the east pos^ 
siWe expense and at a n,argu> betueen producer and consumer less thau 
normal. The san.e MUuU.on confronts >he Anu-rican farmer and the Amer,- 
can consumer m w'leat fnr the next harvest sear.i 

The inaxiuuiin JilTca-nt.al ni the iinlkr. is fixed at $1.10 per 
barrel of Hour. thi> sinii to cover the co^l oi manulacttinng, tiiar- 
ketnig and profit. The price of the Hour is to he totind h- start- 
ing with the " fair price ■' nf wheat at the p-int of niamttacttire. 
subtracting the value of the feed produced iti the process atid a<l<l- 
ing the differential of .SI. 10. This however, i^ a max.nnnn d,l- 
feretitial. not guaranteed. Competition may cut the price to a 

Inwer level - 

rccd Prirrs. The wheat control ha< been extended f- tee-ls, 
an.l the niaxununi price nf leeds ha^ been in a -ense fixed by bas- 
in- the price of bv-prndnct- of grain nulled on the purchase price 
oAhe wheat. In iauuarv the Milling Division of the b'ood .\d- 
niini>trati.>n i-<ued"an order to the millers limiting the charges to 
W made for mill fee.N on the following ba^i^: I'.ran wa. to be 
sold for not more than 38 per cent of tlu wt \n the miller of a 
t,,n of wheat. ( Ithcr mill feeds could be -old at -tatcd f-ures 
above the price of bran'' ( )ut-tandmg contra.ts at the time of 
the i-sue i<i the order were n<'t to be affected 

The maximum char-res to be made bv the different middlemen 
handling the feed between miller and die farmer were lixed by the 
Food AdminiMration. Tn.ler favorable circum-tance- the ag- 
gregate of the middleman charge- should be under the ruling 
from $2.50 to $4 ?0 per ton, vhich with the freight added meant 
that farmer- of the middle we-t could buy bran, when anv was 

ir S Food Administr.ition, Bulletin N'o. 700 ,,,■•,,■„, 

4'/a«.: ami Pnlin.s of the Cercnl Pivrunu. V. S. I"od .Xdmmi.tratinn. 

■%^rMuv:st„fTs. lannary and .April. 1018; aUo O/Hn,,/ Bull. I,n, Mav 20. 
1918. 



IJJ 



I.I-IIXT.S OK THE WAR UPON AGHirUL fLKE 



lo be had, at a red .1 of some five to ten dnll,ir> hel^w com- 
mercial prices preceuing llie order. It mu>t l>e adiimied, how- 
ever, that the practical etlect of the urder en feed actually u>ed 
by tlie farmer was very small. 

About the lime of the issue of thi< order the millin^^ require- 
ments were such that the by-])roducts were scarce at best, nearly 
the entire wheat going into the tlour. This fact t<igether with 
the outstanding orders t( .jc tilled nieaiii ilia'. \e;y little mill feed 
was available for farmers, at the reduced iirice-^. until the want 
for it. so far as the season of 1917-18 was cuiicerned, was nearly 
past. The wheat cmp of 1918 was hea\> enough so that with 
the early nulling the price of bran fell tempi warily liejuw the 
maximum set iiy the l-'ood Administration. 

I'rtiiii till- r'aniirr's Stand l^oint. The wheat Cdiitrnl so far a^ 
tV. J productiun "{ w licit, the pay receivcl li_\- the fanner ior 
wheat, and the prices of llour to the consumer are concer- cd. 
h;\< been as successful a-> could rca.innably be expected. How tlie 
f.irnier h;i> fared may be ^cen in chart \'.' I'lie curves -how the 
weekly price of a iiarrel of tlour at the mill in 1''16 and l''I7. 
The weekly price of 41^ Inii-liels of wheat, the e<iiiivalein '>{ a 
li.irrel cf ilmir delivered at Miiiiieapulis is also shown. It will be 
noticed in 1917, the amount the farmer received for his wheat is 
very materially more than in 1^16, averaging about 60 cents per 
biidiel or 38 per cent more fur ib.ese months than in 1"16. The 
most significant feature nf the cb.irt, howe\er. i- -^een in the nar- 
rowing of the spread between the ])rirc ni 4' j bushel> 01 wheat 
and the ])rice of a barrel of tlour at the mill in 1917 after more 
complete control of the marketing of thi'^ comnindity was ob- 
tained. Here we see that the margin between these two prices 
anidiints to 50 cents in 1917 while in l'^16 this margin axernged, 
well above $1.0(1 ;iiid almost reached $2.00 fur certain weeks. If 
the farm price of wheat is used, it is seen that on No\ ember 1, 
1916. till farm price of 4'' bushels of wheat in the sfiring wheat 
.States of Xiirtli an<l Smith I'ak.ita and Miniie--iita was 6(1 per 

> .'^ee Food .\dniinistmtinn Rullettn. Pnticiei and Plan of Oferation, De ■ 
tcml)er 1, 1917. Most of tlie curves were tal<en from this bulletin. 



THE LNlli:U STATF.S 



123 



cent of the price of a barrel of Hour at the mil! ; on Xoveniher 1 
iyl7 the farm price was H7 per cent nt the price oi a l.arrel of 
flour The price ^ho^v^ f^r wheat (lehver.,1 at M.nncapohs is 
f„r the hc-t niilhn- wheat. Xo. 1 Xortheni, uhile the lann 
price is an average of wheat prices for the give., btate>. It 
should al>o be pnnited nut that the ciuahty nf ihe 1"16 crop was 
inferior to tliat of 1917 .o that this fact may account for some ot 
this divergence. While there has been some criticism among 
wheat farmers of the established price, primarily becau>c they telt 
that the price would be much greater if left alone, nevertheless 
the f.irmer received during the m.mths of heaviest marketing. 
September, October. Xovcmber and Decemb.-r, l')l., appr..xi- 
matelv 40 per cent more for his wheat than in 1916. 118 per cent 
more 'than 1915 and 145 per cent more than the three^year average 
before the war.' 

While these prices which the farmer is now rerdizmg tor his 
wheat are materiallv greater than he ha^ ■ cceived in the lormer 
years thev are. nevertheless, considerably below the prices which 
he received durm- the months ju^t preceding the introduction of 
the wheat control. As compared witli the above percentages, he 
received 14S per cent mure for his wheat in June. 1^11". than he 
did for the >aine month in I'Mf.. 156 per cent more m July 
and 114 per cent more in August. With these increases betore 
1„,„ and with the government crop report showing a crop tor 
1917 but little larger than the short crop of l'>lo. the larnier 
believed that left to itself the price of the ^'17 crop would ap- 
proximate the high levels reached in the spring of 1917, shortly 
after the outbreak of war. Some di^satistactinn wa> recorded ni 
tlie s|)nng wheat district primarily because of two short cv,.ps in 
succession. The great increase in acreage planted to winter rye 
in Xoith Dakota suggests th.it the farmers ,,t that State believcl 
rye to be mure pr. .fit.able at market pi ices than wheat at the fixed 
price. But as noticed in Chapter II, the nrcasion for sowinsr rNO 
in place of wheat in the Dakotas wa> more probably the relatively 
1 Computed from llie Montlily Crop Rcport.s. 



i 24 



riTF.cii ni- riii: war rpd.s Acuicri.TrRi-; 



better pnispcct of a cmp tliaii tlu' c|iU'>ti<ni . i rclitiw jirohtaMe- 
iif>s finni the price stamlpDint 



W 



It was slower in comiii'' id ilic m.irkct liiiritii: tlic fall df 



1917 than in l''l(>. The follduini: tahli 



th 



e reccirts ot 



wheat at the k 



>!' 



ami winter wheat markets:' 



RECEIPTS (Jl- WIIKAT AT I'OrR I'KlXCirAL Sl'RlX 



MARKIITS. AUGUST 1 TO DECKM3EK 



i; will- \T 



Miiincapoli 
piil.ith . 
Chicago 
MUwaukcc 

Total 



ni'CropRush^ 
. 47,jn.iHI() 

. l.'.41ll.lM>ll 
'».«' '7,1 Hill 

2jwmi 

.... 71,976,000 



lyiot ropliuslitls 

5o.iK)(l.(NHI 

IS.l.iii.lKKI 

31.150.11(11) 

4 .S,S8,I)0U 



110.198.000 



RECEIPTS (W WHFAT AT SKVEX ['KINi. 1 1' \I. WIN! 
M AKKl-TS. AlCUST 1 TO UIXHMIil'R ,i 



■;R Will-: AT 



Kansas Citv 17.5.i8,(X)0 

St. Loiiis I_'..i57,000 



1917 Crop Bushels 1916 Crop P, , .hds 



Om.iha 
Toloilo 
Peoria 
Indianapoli; 
Detroit . 

Total 



4 SSd.nnii 

.V.H.U.OIHI 

818.«KiO 

2.416.000 

1.262,000 



5.=;,222.0lX) 
20.J,'<l).lH10 
20.4_'l,0OO 
2.410,000 
1.707.01X1 
l.S'i.^.iMM) 
1.422.000 



42,8.? 1.000 



10,?.,'>57.000 



Tht 



fall 



eeipt- at the iii.iiket- in lidth these li^tricts for the fdiu 



nidiiihs i-i iti-t ,-1 little d\-er half df whnt it wn^ .liirinLT the 



corre^iidndini; months of 1016. The crop of 1017 was lar.ycr l>v 
ahout 14.000,00(1 hiishels than the crop of 1016. althon.u'h the 
t.'xtreinel\- -hort cniji in the scuiliwcster!! .'~^tates, I\.in>as, .\"e- 
hraska. ( )kl,ihonu. and Texas was unddulitedlv the primary cause 
in reducinij' the receipts in the winter wheat inarkets listed. The 
vniusually small stocks of u'rain in farmer-,' hands in I'U; w.is 
prohaltly a factor as w;is .also the shortatrc of cars needed in 
transportation. 

The fixed price for wheat may in itself ha\e h.id an ettect updn 
the marketing; of the farmers' grain durincr the fall. It has heen 
siig:ge-ted that the farmer was hnsy with his fall work knowini,' 
that the price he would receive fdr his wheat would remain the 

> Tlic Miirhct RiW^rd. Miiinc.ipoli';. Dcccmlicr .1 1017. 



Tilt rMlhU STA'lliS 



125 



same thrnughout the vt-ar. and that ho dcvutcd hi. tunc to i:,!l 
l,lu^^nl^, prcivinnj^ l'"' =' '"^'f,'^''' acrca^a- ni ^ra,n the cunnng year. 
It is also heheve.l that the^e slow j,n-ani receipts relleet some ot 
the feeling which existed among tanners that the price fixe.l on 
xvheat was too lou, -i-he (luantity of wheat mi farms. March 1, 
PRICES OF WHEAT AND BULK FLOUR-UNITED STATES 

































U,(IO 

i:ino 






























\ 




























I2,nn 




^T' 


OF _ 


s 






















11 00 








^v* 


or 


iiJr»_ 


^si: 




























^^ 


/Pfl* 






> 


-— ■ 




lonoL^i^i' 














9 00 




^^ 


-^^ 


f~i;2^-!-M. 


-:i-_j^ 


... 




/ 












,<'^-' 


-^-i- 


r 


vf^. 


::£^» 


»T^-^ 


V^ 














7 or 


























..^ 




r.nr 












_^«£ts ' 


r ^-iIlJ^' 


^- 










T) 0( 






__Fiii. 


•"lii. 


















"4 


Week 


:. 


i> 


lU 


JG 


,, 1,1 2.) •Ill ■ u Jl Jfl 



SeptertiDer 



Ch irt \' larm i.vu-es nf wheat nre nearer to tlonr prices since the reguhitions 
ut the I-o.'d .\iiministr:iti"ii went into eltect. 

1<>1S, however, would not sug^o-^t that there was nnv consider- 
al)le amoimt nf hoanling done by farmers during the PM7 crop 
vear. The wheat held hy farmer^, March 1, l'nn-l'»lS, was as 

follows: ' 

Millions of Kushcls 

iiin If*'' 



I'll! 
I'll.' 
I'll? 
1414 



163 
Ml 
156 
152 



Ave. 1910-1914 ".'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. '5*'' 

I yearbook. Pcpartnicnt of .Agriculture. 191fi. Monthly Crop Report, 
Mrir.h, l"t7 I'MS. 






l.'O 



EKKECTS UK IllK U AK L I'mN Ai.lUCULTUKE 



Milli( 



1015 
IVlo 
1917 
1918 



IS of Bushels 
15.) 
-'44 

Id! 
Ill 



lie aiiKiuiit I'll larui-i tur 



1''1S, it will he noticed. 



was 



il;1uI\- m excess o 



f the 



aiiidum 111 



"i; 



wliRii was tlie 



smallest reecrdeil fi»r lilteeii vears. 



At all events the wheat was marketed d^wn to the s1llalle^t 



inari^'in kimuii in nianv \ears, 8,000,000 



i-lieK left in farm 



ers 



lands, helnre tlie liar\e-t <ii 



I'US. 



156.000,000 Inishe: 
bushels. 



s on tariiis 



vear hefnre there were 
d in V>\Ck 74.700,OlX) 



The Control cf ll'Iu-at in loiS 



Under Sccticn 14 



th; 



(il thr l"(n)d Iciiitriii Act a luice lil not 



less 



n ^2.00 per lni>hei for .\o. 1 Xonhern Spri 



wheat or 



ei|uivalent was f;naranteeil the farmer 



tenor primary market- for the 1918 en 



It tl 
he 1 



R" jirincipal in- 
resident, liow- 



e\er, w;t^ 



tl 



t;i\en the p(.)\\ er to fix a reasonahle giiar;mteed ])rice 



le mimmiini <niaranteed in this section. 



stinuilatiii 



t! 



le sowiiiL 



ot wiic.at in 



Wit' 
■: ol 



1 a view ot 
■ 'S. the 



'resident issneil a proclamation, I'ehruary _'l, s^maranteeinj,' to the 
farmers lor the 1*>1.S crop the same price.- 



s which lia\e ln' 



ell set 



or the 



f 

vnv. 



i'»i 



/ crop — ihe_--e price> to remain in effect nntil |une 1, 



Diirini,' the earlv Slimmer of I'US, i 



on^jre^s made ;i s:;reat eltort 



tl I r;u>e 



tl 



le 



price ol \vh 



eal to $J.40, 



111 tact Notmi 



so to (1 



but 



tin 



resident vetoed the hil 



"he 



the measure was the increase made in freii,'ht rati 



osten-ihle re.ison lor passing 



The Pre- 



(li'iit, however, i 



lid 



not 



his 



wriv cle;ir t' 



the increased price for wheat 



ippvoxi- the 



\\\ 



li;i\e adiUi 



1 ^-'.Oi) a hundred 



to the cost of flour. July 1. he ,-mnoiinceil a new -chednle n\ 



wncat prices, suthcienth 



ffic 



th 



ose ot the i)re\ioii- 



\ear to 



co\er the additi 
ahine. nai^e 



il freight 



artres 



20, 



he new prices ;ire >liow n 



/'/ijii 



1013. 



iii Policies of the Cereal Diiision, U. S. Food 



!m!iiistr,itioii, July, 



S r. 
Il 



1 HE I Ni ii:i) t.iAiKs 



ij; 



The Relation of U'luat I'lkcs to Other I'mcs. Wlicii the 
price (il wheal wa.-, M-t at $i.20 in the fall iil 1''17, the pertinent 
(lue^ticiH, What eilect will ihi.-, action have on other graiii>: \\a> 
a>ke'l. As the month.-, passed and people were uryed to eat lloiir 
ether than wheat, the elleet oi the cuntrul of one ^rain and lack of 
ei>nirol of (iiher> heeanie apparent. The price of harle) which 
had heen OO per cent of the wheat price in March. T'l", rose to 
R) per cent of the wlieat price in I'^S.' W'her. it i> remeinhered 
that a liu-hel of harlev is hut foiir-lifth> as heavy ;i> a hudicl of 
wheat, il i> evident that the price of barley per iniiidred is ecpial 
t(i that i<{ whe.it. 

The price of rye is reported at .'i^J.Ol per Inidiel, or j-uh-taii- 
tiallv the same as the f.inn price of whe.it. in some instances it 
has Mild for ten to twenty cents al><i\e the wheat price. With 
these facts before one U i^, ea^y to niiderstand why the Mibstitute 
flours are dearer than wheat tlour. and therefcjre patriotism has 
to overcome a financial obstacle in the saving of wheat. It wiuild 
seem that the more valuable and more desirable tlour should sell 
at tlu highest ti^uire as compared to the others, and thus use the 
financial inducement .-ilong with the patriotic in ace miplishin.L; the 
desired results. 

Consiniiption Control!'-,!. The hood Administration esti- 
mates that the anioiuit of wheal used in ilie form of ;lour by the 
American people from the 1917 crop was 413,000,00(1 bushels 
or at the rate of .v')3 bushels jier capita. This is in contrast with 
a normal consumption of .^.o bushels, a cuttin.t,' down of over 2.i 
jier cent. In other words. America has contributed 1 lO.nQO.OOO 
bu.shels of wheat towanl the feeding of the Kuropean Allies out 
of a savinti; from our tables. - 

During the carlv jiart of the year the saving \va^ put entirely 
on a vohmtecr basis. Later, on the discovery that the savintj; had 
apparcntlv been very small up to the latter part of J.anuary," the 

1 Mnntliv Cmp Ri-port, March, 1918. .\s a m.ntler of fact b,irlcy lias sol.l 
in Chicaso at SXM':' per 1iiis1k-1. or at K2 per cent of tlic pnci- of wheat. 

- riiirs iiiul /'->/» i.-.v of the cVr.-ri; Pr.'isin,,, V. S. I'oo.l .V.liiiinistratioti, 

"'^Kcportid in address l.v TVari F.. Davenport in Ma.ii'on, May 1, 1018; see 
also an ankle in the Aiiuruj I'oocl lounuil. January, 1"18, m %vhi..li Or. (.arl 



■■*l. 



11 



128 



EFFECTS OF TIIK WAR ri'ON xr.Rim.TruE 



trade 



was re(|uiri'(l to stll substitutes alim.i,' with wluat tl'ur 



l?akers. |nit undir liccn-o, were rc(|uiriMl to use iri 



ctMit (ii wluat 
Wore anuiiuuce 



>titiiti's ill haki 



nil Ji) tc 



Wlieatk- 



.1 1 



\ tlu' I 'll'^Iik lit. 



ir^t ciiu' a Wfel 



M 



()iiila\s. 



auil Liter two ila\s a \\eek. Mdiul.iv^ aii<l \\ iilne--(la\ ■ 



.\e\ertliele---. the real >a\iii.L; <in wheat iKnir 
rej,'ulati()ii rei|iiirinj^ millers to use a lar,i,'er (jurtioi 



eaiiie with tiie 



1 111 the w 



heat 



in th 
siihstitutt 



le inanuiaettiri' 



.f tl, 



(I [) 



iiur and i)re-.criliiiiir the sale c)t wheat llniir 



nil the '■ liiiv-littv 



(L 



iiir or meal as wheat ll 



nir. 



l)a>i.i, I. (•.. a-' iiukIi ^ulNtitiite 
Aloti'' with this rule was an earn- 



est a 



,]i])eal 



vheat 



til e()Ilsum(•r^ tn refrain so tar as iio-^sihle trntii eatius; 



in anv fiirin, ami a warnini' to the dealers in .sul)>tituteM not 



to rai.se their |irice> iiiuliiK.- 

W'hcdt Stunl. It mii>t he admitted that hile we saved a 



},M-eat fieal of wheat from the 



irmal 



course 



con-.umption, that 



most oi It wa-^ 



-a\ed after it wa> no Ii 



'tii/er ohtainahle. 



T 



Food .\dniini>tratiiin l)oUL;lit wheat fo 
feitlv certain that it meant th 



r export after it was per- 



e ii<e ot -ii!)-.titutes for the homt 



pen|)le. Ill fict by January 1. we had eximrteil (jO.OiVIOOfl Im-l 



d tl 



lere was no remainin<:; surplus, (.wen counting,' on 



000,000 to 60,(HHI,000 hu-hels, of iini 



ijiorted 



It oO.OOOAX) bushel; 



bu.-.he 
I'la 



lortatioii^. 
e\[)ortei 



Actually we 
1 133,000.(^X) 



/"r /(;/(;. I'lai 



arc a 



I read 



y in proijre^s for a 



still 



larger wheat crop in l''l'>. The Department of A,L;riculti 



askinsr for a 



cent increa-e m 



minimum of / per cent and a maximum of !_' per 
in the acrea.ij;e of wheat sown in the fall n* I'MX 



as compared with the acrea^^e scnvn in l^i; 



A 



corre 



increase is also a>ked tor m t 



tl- 



^pond 



insf 



acreaye of r\'e. 



Miner estimates that the cuiisuinptinn of wlicat up to tlio end uf 191" had been 
above normal. 

' Food .-\dministration. Tlnlletin \o 12. 

- .-Uii erica fii.ni Jnurnal. F,-hruar\. 1918, 

3 ll'i-cklx \c-,is Letter. August 14, 191S. 



Tin. I NlIEl) alAIKS 



1J>' 



77u- Coiitr,>l of .W.M/ 
To l^e^'in wiili tluTc li.i- liocii im altiiiipl ti> ci 



It ml nu'at in the 



same maiiiK-r as that put intD c 



tYi'Ct 111 i-ontri)llmg wheat. 



are no t'iNeil prices tnr 
the heginniiifi <il tl\e wt 



•at iir hve stock. It was evident at 



1^ ,,1 tile !■' 1 .Vihnini-trati'M 



1 that meat 



was one oi tiie 



he main loncl> to he lurnishec 



to the .\nie> ni i|uanli- 



ties prohal) 

The huying fur thi' 



Iv lartjer than the re^Mihir a 



rse of trade would supp 



.MlicN th 



C ro-s. the 



liet. the 



iie\Ural c 



iuntrie>, and ilie 



-nt, is concentrated m a snv- 



airencv wi 



th head(|ua^ter^ m 



Chicairo. V<\- tliis means 



a I 



'1' 



ty tor speculation net ween 



portuni 
eliminated. 

I'ork} The policies o 
ministration have heen wi 



the iiacker am 



;\i)orter is 



t the Meat Divi-inn o 
th respect to pork : 



t the Food .\d- 



1. 



will n 



St a 



hii 



i/e 



)rue- 



at tl 



le cenli al 



markets 



n maintain ho<; ])rice> 



that ihc minimum .averaire price 



it t"all 



.Sl.^.^O iH-r hunilred i for 



l')17 l.'O. 



?^. T 



(1 niamlam a i)ric 



to; 



h. 



farrowed m I 



1«)18. per hundred weight etiual to thirteen tune 



he -prinp of 
the pr 



ot a 



bu>hel of corn dtirint 



tl 



ie "row 



th of the hocjs 



4. As a result of the al.ovc price leveN to stimulate ho;,' pr 



if 



(lUCtldU 



Th 



d for 



,ome 



the\ 



apjjarent. 
received 



lie It 



iroducers were c 



^taliili/iii^' iniluence 
h-sati^lied \vheiie\er 



for ho 



than the price of the feed u--e( 



1 in 



irocluc 



int; them and the question w 



cere not likely m continue so 



hid 



as whether the gram prices 
s relativelv 



1 as to make r 

the direction of a more 



uniirofitahle. The tir<t ettort wa- 
stage market, and earlv in X(.v,-mher Mr. Cotton of the Meat 
Divi>inn announce<l that the ■rnvernment w..uld u-e its mtluence 
to keei) the averatre price of live hoir^ in Thicaso at SI 5.^0 per 
hundred as a minimum until ho-s fe.l on the l^l? corn crop 

> The control, so far :.s there ha- heen any in respect to meat, relates alni..>t 

''"'Tie'^.n:^!i.n^a^'su:u,in^ in .91S. Office of tlje Secretary. Circular n. 
V. S. Fon.l ..\,lmiin.tration, -Meat i>ivi>i..n, Curn and Hay Katies. 



Si 






130 



rFFF.CTS OF TIIF WAR rro.N AC.KUTI.TfKE 



\vtTe sold. It was made plain Id the ]iri)diiccTs that this was not 
like the wheat jiriee, a guaranteed iiiminunn iKKked up with cash 
witli wlinh to buy. It was a promise im the ]i,nt "i" the gov- 
ernment that it would do its best to keep the price uj) ti> that point. 

-As to the stability of prices, it is evident trom a stiuly ui the 
published figures that since November, 1917, the fluctuati(jn^ have 
l)een much less than prior to that time. For the first five months 
(It 1918 the lluctiiations from week to week were hut h.iif as 
great as for the corresponding rionths of 1917.' 

The average price of $13.50 per hundred has been almost con- 
stantly maintained. It fell to $15 03 in February, and rose to 
$15.76 in April.' It is the opinion of Dr. F. Dana Durand, 
purchasing agent for the govcrnnunt .uid .M'ie-, that the iiiilu- 
encc of the government is efTectivc in keejjin}; jirices ironi fall- 
ing, but under the circumstances, i. c. the necessity of makini,' 
heavy purchases, it can imt keip ilicni dnwn to any given point. 
During the ■-uniiner •>{ 1''1S the aver.ige price lia- lieeii still 
hii:hcr. 

1 he 1 Ic !!:;-(."< irn Ratio. The a|i|irtlKn-i(iii nf the K'"'*'ri."ient 
was greater concerning; the supply o'" hogs for the ye.ir 1'*1<S-19 
than for the hogs for the year 1 •.7-lS The Department of 
Agriculture asked for an increase <>'' 15 per cent in the number 
of hogs and in addition that they lie fed to a heavier weight.'' 
In order to bring this to pass it seemed necessary to give the 
farmers some assurance that they would not be called upon to 
feed the hogs at a loss. A conference of hog feeding ex[)erts 
consisting of Prof. John F.vvnrd <<\ Iowa. L. I'. Inmk of Illinois, 
X. H. Gentry of Missouri, W. A. Williams of OklaVoma, j. I!. 
Skinner of Indiana, Tait Hutler of Tennessee, and I'.. W. I'.nnlie 
of Nebraska, was called together in Chicago to consider the ques- 
tion and make recommendation^; The recommendations niade 
were, with some modifications, adojited. 



^ From a niainiscript report by O. V. Carpenter at the I'liiversity of Wis- 
consin, ne|)artnient of .Vgriciiltiiral Economics. 

* The ARrkuUural Situation for 191.1. Office of the Sccrrtarj-. Circular 84. 



rilK INITED STATES 



131 



llic commission found that alwiit the eritiivakiit of twelve 
bushels t>t corn is re<iiiire(J to produce a hundred ik.uiiU.-. of 
ho-. That for ten years ending ni I'JIO. the price of ho^s per 
IniM.lrcd hid l..-.n eiiual to 11.67 bushels of corn. Since, how- 
ever, an nicrca.c ni the nunil)cr of ho^s was desired the commis- 
sion recommended that a ratio of 14.3 Ix: adopteil. Ihe Food 
Administration decided upon 13 as the ratio to \k offered. Vet, 
a^Min this was not an outright offer. It was a pledge to use the 
intluence of the .i,'overiiinent to maintain the price at that level. 
Chicago prices of both corn and hogs were to rule. .\ scale was 
devised whereby it could lie conipute.l how nnich corn a gi\en lot 
of hogs had eaten and during what months it had been fed to 
them. 1-rom this information the price the hogs sliould Inns 
coulil be determined. 

It must not be suspected llial the hogs actually c.U 13 bushels of 
corn for e:ich 100 pounds of gain. They may be. and usually are, 
fed on cluMpi r feed for at least part of the time. Moreover, a 
good feeder gi^t> his gains at a smaller expenditure of feed and 
hence makes a profit. The 13-bushel ratio clearly contemplates 
tempting return- t\iti tn iIk- feeder will ln-low the most .'-kilful 
It was the internum not alone to ImI,! \v^ prices fairly high hut 
to st.ibili/e them. 

The itileie.sting question i>. Ib'W i-. the 13-bushel-per-l(X)- 
pound ratio going to work out during the year 191S-19 ? It must 
be remembered that feeding hogs is one of the main ways of 
disposing of the corn croj). Any important ehani;e in the ho- 
demand f. t o>m is bound to al'fect its price materially. It is 
admitted that the ratio i- a stimulating one with reference tr. 
hog production. 'Ihat i~ to -ay there i- more mi.ney in S13 hogs 
than In selling corn at .$1 a liu-hel. Then why should not the 
farmer bid higher for corn in order to get more pork ready for 
the market? Hut >hould he ot^fcr $1.50 for the corn an.l bring 
the selling price to that point, then must hogs automatically go 
to $19.50 a hundred. .\t those prices for both hogs and corn 
' T!ie .-liir:' n:i:,r.il SUujtirn f^^r inS. Office of the Secretary, Cirriil.-ir S4, 









13. 



i:i'ri:cTs av thf. war itdn- agkici-i.ti'ke 



there is as liclnrc iii'Tc niciiic}- in the hn^s than in C(irii >o\>\ 
(hrcctlv, and >o why >li()ul(l nnt the larnier otter $J.(A) fur corn? 
In whieh ca^e the government would of necessity undertake to 
keep the price of lioi;s at SJO If there is any end to t!ie hide- 
and-go->eek game thus set in motion it is not api)arent. Mani- 
festly the richlle of artificial price making has not yet heen alto- 
gether sol\ ed.' 

Beef. Much less has heen done with respect to maintaining 
either price> or supply ot heef. Jn a speecli iiK'.de in the West, 
Mr. Hoover, in January. 1918. announced something in the na- 
ture of a beef policy." He sail: 

We lKi\e, with tlic aid of England, adopted the course of :ncrcasing o;ir ex- 
port orders lor frozen meats, so as to clear part of the freezers. I liave ad- 
vised the packers tliat it is our policy tliat the prices of cattle (except cannersl 
will not fall subst.imi.illy below the present levels— we all know tha.t any at- 
tempt to fix standard or minimum cattle prices is almost an impossibility, and 
that durini; most periods, the demand takes care rf the supply. 

( )ne of the main reasons why the government can exercise sucl! 
a signal intluence in stabilizing prices is that it can buy in such 
];iige quantities a>. o.i nio-t occasic tis. to [)revent congestions. 

An instance occurred in August, 1918. which pointedly illus- 
trates the weakness of set rules and policies with respect to mar- 
kets. Tile govenimeiit. while discouraging the production of 
highlv finished beeves,' bought almost no carcasses of light weight 
beeves, for example, from cattle weighing 800 to l.OnO pounds. 
\\ hile conditions were normal this worked well enougli. bin very 
suddenly the pastures m parts ot Oklahoma and Texas failed, 
and. almost without warning, light beeves began to come into the 
markets in great numbers. I'or a time they solil for X or 9 
cent> a jiound. while heaxy bee\e> were bringing from 1 .i to IS 

• The thirtecn-to-nne ratio was abandoned in October, almost before it 
was realK tried bor one thiiiK there was a dispute over the interpretation 
of the agreement, .ind fiirtli<riiiore, there was much .ipprehcn-ion on the part 
of tile b'ood .Xdirinistration h-t tlir price should be forced too high. 

^/),-.t.-r,/ .V.;. . lainiarv 1(1. V>\X. 

>U\\-ldy XfU's Letter, July 10. l'»18. 



i'l 



THE VNITKU STATES 



133 



cents a pound. This meant a distinct loss, ?nd an unnecessary 
nne, to the cattle ossners. At times they sold cows for hardly 
-nore than their bides were worth. The market was Hooded 
with meat which was boii-ht from the farmer at a low price, Imt 
while meatless days still continued, the consumer w-> asked to 
pay the usual hi^di prices.' The Food Administration after 
receiving many urgent telegrams suspended temporarily the meat- 
less day order so far as beef was cQncerne<l, and also undertook 
to purchase some of the lighter weight beef carcasses Adju<t- 
nieiils in a market governed by rule are difficult wlieiiever the 
rule fails to tit the circumstances. 

CoihI:isiou. Confronle>l by a difficult situation, the govern- 
ment has thus far made no v^ry serious mistakes. The supply 
of meat iias increased at a time when there seemed greai danger 
that it would decrease. The prices are high, but they are no 
higher than the general level of other commodities. We have 
succeeded in exporting astonishing quantities of meat to the 
Allies and have accomplished it without any considerable amount 
of increase in prices due to speculation. The number of middle- 
men handling meat is held at a minin-um and if any unfairness is 
practised bv the packers it is not due to war conditions, but is 
simplv a ccmtinuation of an old regime which can, however, be 
discovered and corrected more easily now than in normal times. 
With respect to profits of the packers it is reported by the t-"ed- 
eral 'I'rade Commission that the big packers h;.ve .uade profits 
y:<( 1 per cent greater than before thr war.^ ^his of course means 
an added increase in the price at which me.it must be sold. 

Tlir CoiUr(>! of Butter. Cheese and f.i/iis 
Tlie lilau of control of these commodities was based on the 
information furnished \r the liureau of Markets with respect to 
the quantities in storage. 

-■Sumniarv -f il.e Rernrt of tin- Federal Trade O.unnu.s.un u„ the -Ucat- 
Paciiing Inilustry, July. 1918. 



lUittcr. 



KITKCTS 111- Till-: WAR TPOX AGKUTI/rruF. 



The \\a\ ill vhich the work of cinitnilliiifj the prices 
of the-e articles i~ hamileil i> iUu^trated hy the IdHdwiiii,^ l)iille- 
tiii: ' 



Wh'ilc-ale prices for sturaKC crcanuTv Imttcr 'ia\c been aniiuimccd by the 
I'nitL'l Slatev lood Admiiiutratioii. lor Neu \o}k and Chicago, the New 
Nnrk prices to Ko\e-n other points m seaboard territory. The new scale lias 
been established with the voliimary cooperation of tlie butter tra.le, and ,dl 
exchanges notilicd to observe tlie lullowing wholesale quotations: 

" Xew York: 47 cents a pound 'for the remainder of the season.' This 
means about two months, wlien most of the present storar? creamery butter 
will have been released. This price will remain uncluiir^cd. without albjw- 
ances for accumulatiiii4 storage chart;es. 

•■ Chicago: 45' > cents a pound until I-'ebru;iry 1. lieginning then the price 
will be advanced one-fourth of a cent on the tir-t and tilteenth of each 
month until pr.ictically all creamery butter is released from storage, 'llus 
increase is designed to compensate for storage expenses. 

"The new scale of prices is ha-ed on a careful investigation of the cost 
of storage butter and allows a reasonable iiroht for the holders. The usual 
trade ditTerentials arc to be lUowed the various classes of handlers, 

" Stable prices at these two iirincipal butter centers, under volunt:iry agree- 
ments with princip.al butter exchanges, is regarded a^ sufficient assurance 
that correMi"udiug prices uill rule throuihout the country." 

While s'.nra.i^e butter was snM ti the retail trade at 47 cents a 
lH)itiul. it would he sold to the d iiMitiier at soinethins over 50 
cents, pniliahly about 55 cents a pound. Fresh butter during 
lanuarv a-^d l-'ebrnary was sold in Xew ^■o^k City for 57 cents, 
and in other cities at the same time rans,'ed from 48 'j to 60 cents 
a poinnl - '\'\n\-. while butter was hii:;h. it did not so to unprece- 
dented ti.;ure<, .and a piod .ijrade of butter coniin.i; troin the 
storaL^e house-; was on sa'o at ■; .a-onable prices throughout the 
w inter. 

'l"he opjiortunitv for pnditecriuc; in butter is wcll-mt;h ehir.- 
inated bv the rule- i^overuint,' resale atnong dealers. One or two 
res:des within a i;iven cuy were all that were all<nved. and these 
at prescribed rates of increa-e in price'' 

Anothe.' force helpin- -reatly to control the price of butter is 

' Food .Administration. Bulletin Xo. S<)2. January 10, VnH. 
• -tvu'n.an I'ooti J >untal. Innnary and February. 
aOffiM.i; lUilU-tm. Inly -M, I'lIS. 



riiK rxiTF.n state? 



nil' 11 



~c of substitute-. For example there was an increase in nut 
ies from 600.0(10 pounds in January, 1917, to 



inarLianne 



9.6t>0,0O() [lounds m Jaiuiarv 



1')1S. 



CVi.v.sw The et)nir(il of cheese was undertaken later than that 
of huiter and e,ui;s, Imt corre.-poiida to these in almo.-^t every p;ir- 
ticular. No limitation is placed on the price to he recened by 
the farmer, but the nuiri^Miis of all dealers between the cheese 
factory and the retail merchant are carefully procnhed. The 
dealers are licensed and are required to report upon marsius re- 
ceived over ])urcha>e price. 'I'he advances taken mu-t never be 
more than enoiiL;h t(.i allow a reasonable prolit. 

it is the intention of the I'lxul .Vdministration that cheese be 
kept inovini,^ in as direct a line as possible. The dilYerent cheese 
dealers are put into three classes: first the manufacturers; sec- 
ond, the assemblers, wholesalers, anil jobbers, includincr all who 
receive cheese from manufacturers and ^rade and a'^semblc it for 
sale, or who distribute it in any way except at retail ; third, re- 
tailers, hotels, restaurants, and institutions- 
All cheese made during the season of I'M 7 was ordered to be 
marketed before the beginning of the cheese making season of 
1918.3 

Eggs. With meat selling at high.er figures than ever before. 
it was evident that the price of eggs would correspond. I'.spe- 
ciallv was this to be expected in view of the -hort supply of eggs 
in the fall of 1017. 

In lamiary tlic Food Administration announced prices {^r 
storage eggs in Xew York City, Chicago, and other points, of 
40 to 42 cents. As in the case of butter, resales among dealers 
were strictlv limited and tlie margin to be made in such resale'^ 
was also limited. Tiiese limitations ajiplied also to poultrv in 
storage.' Fresh eggs were unregulated, and always greatly in 

> lloartl^ PairxHum. April 2('. flS 

= 1'. S. Fnod '.\clniiiil-.tr,Tti.iii I'n-- P.iiIUtiii in Chicnuo Dciirx Pr.Hiiicc. 
AuRiist JO. 11)18, 

■' fliillrr Chfi-se and /.\'c Jiiuntal. I\l<ntarv l.i. I'^IS 

■>\. w ^"-^k Tiwi-s. l.imiary 15, 1918; N.u York /'...(/h.v Rrrlru'. May l.s. 
1918. 



136 



i:fi-i:cts or tiik \v.\k urox AcuicuLTrKE 



tk'iiiand 



stnr;iL'c •■■.iru^- 



Th 



laiuiarv in eastern 



cities l\)r 48'.. to dO ceni> a do/en, and in l-ehrnary 



85 cents. 



The Control of Mill: 



It nnist lie admitted tn bej;in with, that the title " Milk Control " 
is not altoi,a'ther apitrupriale. The same de<;iee ol pubhc author- 
ity entennj,' into the control of meat and >uj.;ar has not tluis far 
been applied to milk. Xeverlhelos. the price- lur some months 
have been artificially made nicjre nearly than they would h.ive been 
in the diucome of ordinary c<imi)eiitioih 

I-'cir about a year previMU-> to our enterini,' the w.nr there had 
lieen troul)Ie with respect to the jirices i>aid by city distributors to 
milk producers. Xot that there had never been trouble bcf(jre. 
There had. but never so acute, and never with -n wiile a ditler- 
ence of opinion regardinj^ a fair price It should be ■• 'cr^tood 
th.at the fanr,ers had for some time heen able to act nmre or less 
in concert tlu-(iniL;li their Milk I'lMduccr-' A^oci.itinus. The 
(.'hiciijo district had been orsani/ed fur some year-, a- had like- 
wise the milk prodncini; di-trict- arcnind nearly all the lart^'e cities, 
I5v this means the farmers were able to carrv on ^omethini,' ap- 
pniachini: ciillci-tive baruainini,'. In the -prin;: ci 1'>1A. on April 
1, the milk producers in the Chicatjo di-tnct demanded :i very 
moilest increa-e iti pri'-e. The di-tributor-; refused to meet the 
demand .and ;i " -trike " - en-ued. .Xtter a week, durin.i; which 
verv little milk frmn the rct;ular milk zone made it- way into 
Chicago, the di-tributors tj.avc the producer- what they a<ked. 
rai-iiit: the price from ,<1 3.^ to SI ..-.^ jicr hundred pounds for milk 
containing;; 3..=^ per cent of fat. .\s a result the price to the con- 
sumer wa*; raised from eit;ht cent- to nine cent- a quart, thoui;h 
not for -everal m<inlli- after the increa-e was cr.anted the farmer. 

.<ix m.oith- later, that i- in -Septeniber, 1016, the producers 
made another (lem.and for increased pay, askin.c; for .'=;2,nO a htm- 
dreil pound- for milk. This demand was accepted by the di-- 
tributor-. Ju-t before .\pril 1, l'»17, the pr..dncers made a de- 

^Ameriiiui Food Journal. Tamtary and Fcbni.Try 

'Really a Uncott, but substantially alway;; callci! a strike. 






THE LMTKO STATKS 



13: 



m 



and for $2 12 a Inuulrcd pounds as the average lor the next 
\-nujnth period (it had been the custom tu set prices lor six 
nnths) and again the distributors accedeil. 



There 



in tlr 



Ik market until the 



no further disturljance 
end of the sutnmer period, 1917, /. i'., October 1, at which time 
the pnxhicers >et a price of $3.42 a hundred. Under great pro- 
test die (hstributors accepted the situation and raised the retail 
price to 13 cents a quart. The price of $3.42 a hundred wa- lor 
the one month, October. The l''H)d Administration liad made 
an earnest appeal to the farmers to fix the price for one month 
onlv, promising that an effort would he made to regulate the price 
of dairv feeds. To tliis proposal the farmers gave ready assent. 
In the meantime, there was great dissatisfaction on the part 
of the cnnsumers. The pres< denounced the farmers, and the fu- 
ture loiiked ominous. The .\ttorney Genei.ii nt the State of 
Wiscon-in at once beg;in legal proceedings and --m had the 
leaders of the Producers' Association under induiment. The 
contention of the .\ttorney fleneral wa- that the farmers in meet- 
ing to discuss and fix milk prices had violated the anti tni-t law 
of the State. The inference is that each lurmer in order to 
keep within ihe law should liargain individually for the sale of 
his own milk, even a gmnp <liscns.ion of the i)nce being taken 
as friiihi fihir evidence that the law had been violated, 'idle milk 
producer- insist that thev can not sell ,'iilk at a fair price witl nit 
concerted :iction, and tb.at so long ;is they fix a fair p-ice only 
thev should have a legal right to act a- a l)ody. I'erhaps they 
should have such a right. Init the dispositi n\ of the State and dis- 
trict attorneys is to prove that at present they are law breakers.' 
In ;in effort to bring order out of chaos sever.al State governors 
appointed milk commissi. mers to studv the ca-e. I'mminent 
among the~e were tlie Wisconsin commission, and the C.overnors' 
Tri-St"ate Commission for PeniisN Ivania, Marylan.l and De'a- 
ware. Later in the year, several federal commissions were ap- 
pointed bv the Food .\dmiuistration. In fact milk commissions 
became quite the order of the d:i>. There were feder.il commis- 
^ Six milk prnrliiccr^ in.llcK-.l one day. CKwm^ 7 .;.'•»».•. OcIoIht 17, 1017. 



■ '9 
.; il 



utJ 



:#'; 



I.^S 



i.'i.'in.-rTC MV 1 



1 t f \»- \ II I ■ IK I \" \ ( " I I 






ill I'.lKtilIl 



V. 



\-, .,1. 



I 1, 



.Ii"iii,. ^111 l'r-itii'1^1'11 






il1\- ihr >niiic snrt m in.iiiv ol 



il,^r 






;.. .1... 



viciui!\- ni l/h''ca,i;ii aJid .Milwrnikvc licfiuiK' aL'ute sixm aitcr the 
.•mil, .iniri'tiiini ci till' S.5.4J 1)1 icu in ()i-ti)l)rr. I hi,' ( n i\ l-i iKir nt 



Wi-, 



.' ii^in aiiDi'ini 



..,1 . 



_ ,,. ..^ ... - 

...11. i...i /l.it-ni.i tli-it idiiitlli til tiKiniri' 



iiitd the Cost uf iHoihlcillL: mil 



I. 



,,,,1 









i'ntnmi<^io 



11 irrit JuTfi I f(i 



I'l 111 t iTi 'Tiri' \\ il 



/I Kt rii iiiti if< 



h rinr 



.•ther all a\Milalile iiil'<irn;atinii and in 

.ii'itii..^ Ill ill., mil!.- 1 ii-( .1 liii-ir* rmi! the 



■ "" • - r ■ " ' ' ' 

(,t luiili \lil\v:iiil,i'e and (. Incayu li.xcd a tentative 

* \', .w.it.il ...1- -.11/1 1 li.i'i'iiil w'l- 1 'n_ 



irice of ^vi 22 tor the months 

liT till, .-li'i eeiiu-nt the di^tnlintc ir> wet 



<-|'Ht> ti I 



-' cents a cmart as the • 



the riiited Slate-; Imkh! 
aiipt 'int a ci 'niiiii.---ii m \v 



e to eniiie ib 'U n troiii l.i 

. llinj; price. At the same time 

.Xdniini-tration \\a> jirevailed U])on to 

lii.'li .li..iil.l fi.i m.,r.. 1*1 nil 1 -1 llli'iit I U \ llltil 



till' 1 



lint 



I IT .111(1 (leteniiine a Tiriee 



ilii^ -I ri'ri ^1 niril A 



irotit. 

1,.. 



based on the cost of ])ro(hicini,' 
,,:,.;..., ... .1. .(,,,■■„;,>., 



the pnce for ihe six months |ieri( 
.-mil 111 in.iki il siic'li iti.'if .iiiv loss 



followiiii; January 1, 1")1S. 
,.i,;.4, „,;,,i,t ii-,,-,. ,-,,-,,i..,.t 



from the .\'o\enilicr and Ueceniher price stionld lie made fjood. 
'ihe ci'mmi.--iMn aiipointcd consisted of eit,dit men and one 
wiiinan; Jo'iin .''s. .Miller, John W. ()'l,eary, John J. I'"it/ji;itrick. 
and !'. ('.. llolden all of Chicauo, lohn 11. ll.irris 



-ticiii^ 
if W 



I eter, 



1--CI iii^m 



W 



Kittle (if v'rv-tal Lake. Ill 



I lean 



Da\cn]H.rt of the I'liixcrsity of Illinois and Mrs. 1". 1'. Welles 
of 1 lm~d.de, Illinois. 

UnriiiL; ihe -illinuN of the comnii~--inn te--timon\' was taken 
from .1 lar^e mimlrer of dair\:iieii and countr\' aL^riciiltiiral aL;ent~, 
a.^riciiltural college e.xperts, milk distriluitors, the city he.ilih 



olficer. and a few social lietterment 



<ers refiresentin': tiie cmi- 



Slimeis. It w.a-- i.'\])ected th.it the t-onimi~-ion would conijilete its 
hearings and lie ready to announce a price by January tir>t. .\- a 
matter of fact, the hearings were prolonged until the Li^t days 
of Jamiar\- and the price announced I'eliriiary tir-t. 



'I'he testinioin of the dairvnicn con 



llict 



ed. or perli.'ips a lictter 



word would he, \arie(l. .Accordiiig to the figures gixeii the c^ -t 



of i)roducing milk 



(1 fi 



iitle over $3 00 a lutndrcd, to 



V'l 



TllK IMTKI) 



-TATE.S 



iiKirc tli:m 
>11 



$5.00 a hull 



!rc(l. 



(1 



ti>llcgc cxiicri-, iiiu 



Ici-iotik ti) base c.>.-t> en a mninila wiuc 



ctnal accniint^. 
h 



139 



Ci lUUl 



he U 



-fd in nil nine to tune 



all( 



ir changc-s in tlK' prii^^c ot 



1 I'ccil. 'I'lic inrnnila 'a Inch reccncd the iiio-l atteii- 



lalxir aiii 

tiuii was (Jiic cniistructtHl at the 



Auricuhural 



Colli 



It 
1 



hail been substantially accepte.l by the WisCcMi>ni eoninu-M.'n anc 
was aj,'aiii given great piunnnence in the disCU^Mon by the (- In- 
eago conunission. This fornuila was kmn\n as the " I'earxm 
I-\rrnni!a," it having lieen devised by Mr. Pearson ..i the lllinoi.-. 
Agricultural College. It was based on a series of farm accounts 
involving S73 cows. The formula undertakes to show what is 
rccjuired in the form of feed and labor to produce a hundred 
ptjunds of milk, and is as follows : 

IXS pounds of silage 
44 pounds of grain 
50 pounds of hay 
39 pounds of roughage 
2.4-' hours of labor 

It was assumed that other debits and credits would balance. The 

cost was liased on the maintenance of an entire herd such as 

would be needed to keep a given number of cows milking. By 

the use of this formula it was found tli.at the ]irice of milk in 

order to cover cost would have to be very materially raised. In 

fact, all tertimonv presented by any one interested in agriculture 

pointed to the same thing. The testimony of the farmers, it is 

true, varied. The Illinois formula was a definite statement, but 

it in turn had been made on the basis of average amounts of feed 

and labor required in producing milk from nearly nine hundred 

cows during a certain year. I'.ither method, that is. the direct 

te-timony or the formula, involved the (|uestion of an avenge. 

The commission was awake to the fact that an .iverage co-t price 

failed to Milve the difticulties : that ordin.T'- market prices do not 

hear anv known definite relation to the axerage of the separate 

costs. Not being satisfied with either the reports of costs or the 

formula since both were bound to suggest price increase-;, the 



141) 



i;i-i-i;cis (If riii: uai; \ vn\ ackii li.ii ki: 



C()mmis>iiiii Ini'd a (litlciciit iiK-lluxl. 'I'hey mailc a -iaii>tii.al 
sttiilv whereby they tabulated the i.-'>^t> ni iced and lahc.r eiileriiij^ 
into the cnst nf milk [inuUK'tiiin mnn .\'(j\eniltei' to June (hiring' 
the ]iericid T'^.S to 1''15 e.\ehiM\e. Arrumi,' at the>e eo^t>, allo- 
cated acetM'din;; to the i'ear^on loiinnla, ihe\ loiind that they 
would, iitidei" j)re.--ent conditions, he about 7/ per eeiit ^'reater, 
an increa--e coniparin^ favorably with the ;;eneral increase in 
prices iioni that eailier period to the Corresponding months of 
1917-18. It was assumed that the fanner tmtst have received a 
reasonable pr-,tit in l'H>S -1915, so the prices received during those 
years was incri-ased by 77 per cent and adopted as the 1917-lS 
price -cale. Although three members dissented, the commission 
announceil a ])rice lower for I'ebruary In \? cents a hundred than 
the price of the ])receding three months, and falling from that to 
Sl.NU for June; thus the June price was set at a i)oint but 1-' 3 
per cent above that of June. 1''17. 

Not only was a decrease in the price thus justified in the minds 
of the commission but another line of reasoning led to the same 
result, ."^ome one discovered that in all cost accounting work in 
connection with farm prices, the market values of the intermedi- 
ar\ ]irodiu-ts were u^i^d. .According to the testimony of many 
expert .accountants, this is contrary to the practice in accounting 
methods as applied to industrial or comnierci.il concerns. Here, 
then, it was sai<l. were the farmers trying to make double profits 
l)v putting a price on feeds far above their cost, because they 
would sell for a higli price, and yet asking a price for milk which 
would vield a profit abo\e these inllited costs. In consecineiice 
an accountant was called in tc) demonstrate the fallacy and to 
pro\e that the projier wa\- to jiroceed was to ascertain the cost 
of gi-.iin. h;iv. and the hke, to the farmer. ;ind charge to the dairy 
account these much lowered items. I-"or example oats were sell- 
ing ;it Nl3 cents a bushel during the hearing. They had cost much 
less, sa\' 4.S cents a bushel, and should go into the dairy accounts, 
therefore. ;it 45 cents and not at SO cents. 

What, forsooth, does this ha\e to do witli the effect of the war 
on agriculture? It has this to do with it: Formerly milk was 



TUK r.Mir.U ^lATLS 



141 



Id on the liaMS of a price m whidi cnmiietuion playeil the major 
,le. Now oil account of the unprecedented demand for the ce- 
lar;:elv produced ; on account (jf tlie hif,di 



ro 
reaN nu 



t of which milk is 



• pv 
1 on account of the f^i 



eat demand fi'r 
re, due to these contributmy causes, to- 



a few more, tryi 



nsr to substitute " fair pi ice 



price of labor involved; anc 
milk at condeiiseries. we a 
gether with pos? 
for the ordinary competitive price. 

■I'o return to the Llncat^o milk commission. Ihe commis- 
sion could prove bv the co>t accounting method most suitable fnr 
arriving at a low lii;ure that the price of milk instead of rising 
should fall. Moreover, the comparison of present returns with 
the supposed prolitablc returns of 1V08~1915 substantiated the 
conviction that the farmer should be contented with a cut m the 
.November- lanuary price. S3 21 a hundred, for the ensuing 
months. '1 hi-- was by no means all of the reasoning of the coin- 
niisMon. According to the testimony of one of them it hail vir- 
tually been decided that the retail price in tliicago should be main- 
tained at 1-' cents a (inart.' Using the price arrived at for the 
farmer left the distributur as wide a margin on which to do liusi- 
ne>s as he had asked fnr. The scale of prices announced by 
the commission for the five month.s following February 1 
amounted to an average price of $2.45 cents a hundred pounds to 
the farmer. This equals 3 -'8 cents a quart for the distributor. 
In other words, out of the consumer's dollar the farmer was to 
get 44';'t cents, the distributor, including transportation charges 

55'-';i cents. 

Immediately after the announcement of the new scale of 
prices, the farmers instituted a boycott and not much milk made 
its wav into Chicago for several .lays. The State Food .\dmir: ;- 
tration umlertook a reconciliation. .-\ man was sent from the 
United States I'ood .\<lministration to hear the arguments, and 
with the prospect of an official settlement in view, the farmers 
again shipped their milk. Thus the month of February passed. 
.About March first, the commission announced thai the price tor 
March would be $3 10 in place of $-'83. and that prices for the 

' Ititormation recciveil i'v i!k- writir at tir>l h.ir.il. 



m 



14. 



1-lll.Lis (U- Ilir. S\.\K I ru.N AGUIC, TL"UE 



en^iiinj,' months tu jiilv 1 would lie annminccil alioiit two week-, 
111 advance ul the tir>t nt eai-li iiiuiiih, it bciiiy the [ihiii in base 
tlieiii I'll the chaii^eN in feed juices. 

Meanwhile what ni the eiUL-^uinptinn of milk? It is a hard 
iiKitler to >ell a j;ueii iiuaiitily ol aii\ eniniii.idii\ irre>j)ectne of 
the price a>ked l"r it. .\o >ooiier had the price of niiik heeii 
increa-ed in (icioliei, 1"'17, than ^tiiries lK';.;aii to he circiiiaied 
to the elfect that the coiisumcr.s would not huy the ordinary 
amounts oi milk at the advanced [irice^. It ha-- heeii e-tiniated 
that e\en alter >oiiie recovery under the l_'-cent price from the 
falling olf 111 purchase? on the announcement of the l,i-cei!t ()rice, 
the coiivumpticiii is >till niiich below normal.' At the time of the 
hearing, it was estimated that the (lecrea>e was JO to ,iO per 
cent. 

\\ liile the milk price battle ha> been ,!.,'oiiig on, the eondenseries 
ha\e been iisiiii; a j^reat deal of milk. The api>arently limitless 
demand for conden^eil milk for export, the high price which it 
has been bringing, and the enleriirise shown bv the coiidensery 
companies in e.N[>andiiig their business ha^ been a leading factor 
in creating a demand for milk and holding the price liiyh - 

1 he lioston and .\ew \drk commissions re]i(irteil earlier than 
tile C hicago commission. I'or Xew ^'ork, the price to the pro- 
ducer was fixed at S.V3.s ptr luindre<l for three jier cent milk. .\t 
the same time the price to tiie consumer was set at \r< cents per 
(|uart foi grade P. mil':, the kind nio-t in Use. Tins w.is for 
milk with three per cent of fat. I~or each tenth of one per cent 
more tat, an ad<lition d four cents is paid, 'riuis nnlk testing 
3 5 per cent brought S3.7i a hundred, or fiftN' cents above the 
price [laid in Chicago. 

Milk investigations hn\c been numerous. The commission ap- 
])onited by the governors of Pennsylvania, Marvland and i )ela- 
ware m.ide an elaborate report on the cost of producing and dis- 

1 Iloarils Dairyman. .Xrril 2-». 1018. 

- However, at tlie tiiiif tlie cinnni.-sinn maiU- its (Uci^^ion tluTc was much 
roiuk'niicd milk in stnracc on .TCO'iint (H lack of transportation l.icihttcs. aiiil 
tlie smaller demand by eondenseries contributed tu the surplus which was then 
.1 f.Ktur. 



Tin. \ Ml Ml M ATKS 



14.' 



irilnitinp; ni 



Ik 



'lb 



•.ttiii (- iKimhcr I 



I ( • •iiiii:(.'icc iss 



ucd 



liullftiii, DfCi'iiilur .M. 1''17. Stuilii'> li;i\c lucii made alM) in 
oilier di-trict>. idr in-t;uut', in I 'li.-vi.-l:iiid. ami l'ltl■^lmr;;ll In a. I 
of the iiiiiiiirics made it ha- been lom 



(1 that ihe i:ubl.> 



)l iii-'idiic- 



111'' mi 



Ik ha\u risen la-ter than the >ellmK price 



he iiR-rea'-e iii the |iru 



)tedl\ 



III mil 
itl 



tile Near 



'>](, 



iin- 



la.j a >timuiatm.t; iiitUuiu c I'li the ])roillKtinii. 



CiilU 



liti 



1(111 ediitimietl initil well into the >ear 



l''i; 



til 



V 



ot {^raiii so outran tin.' iiiuo 



oi mi 



ik 



.1-, to make iin 



ik 



ipjiear very 
eheaj). it i- not ea>v tu iliaii^e the (|tianlity ol milk ]iro(liiced 
ahniiitly withcjut seriou. l.i-- Heme, the threatened decrease in 

the 
the 



the >niiiily of milk follow mi; Oct' 'her 1. I'M", failed, for 



ino-.t [lart. to niateriali/e. 



\\li,ite\er may ha\e liappeiiet 



\va\- ol a ilecrease \v 



as no greater than cnongli to halanee the les- 



sening 



of the demand due to the increased jirices c 



liar; 



tli^ 



consumer. 



tend 
the 



At the same time the stocks of condensed milk had a 
te on account of the congested CMiiditinii of 



encv to acciimiila 



railroads and the shortage of shipping for the foreign trade, 
f a congested condition of the trattic, 



Were 't not for the danger ot a 



comlen-erie' 



could take milk at almost any price. S( 



1. 



a- the 



fore 
tl 



igii trade wonli 



le 



inmi-tratioii \vnerei)\- 



.(1 .\d 
to liiiv milk as he^t they can, mann 



1 alisorb it. in view of the arrangement with 
r-io.iii \vhcrcl)\- the ci>iidenseries are allowed 
factnre it. and take a ten per 



cent protit. As a resu 

earlier in the .season than ii-ua 



enei 

and milk for a time liecame re 



It of ih.e-e forces the price of butter weak- 

1. Chec'^e declined in price. 

.•latively abundant. By July 1. l'>18. 



tl 



lere was 



no longer a -nrp' 



he war n:\< 
th 



>timul 



iven the dairvm 



ited the dairy industry and has undoubt- 
an mote for his product during some 



tlian 



would ot 



therwi-e have receivec 



1. Xt 



jrthelc 



months 
it has 



failed to furni-h a >te:ul\- mar 



kct. and has signall\ failed to yield 



as gre.'it a reward as is oh 



grain. 



tainable b\ ;he more direct market for 



It has raised the price of meat to an unprcceiKiited figure 



1 Go 



Tri-Sfate Commit 



Report of PiMin<;ylv.inia. D- partnifiit 



f Agriculture. Tinlktin N" -S7 i-.-ikiI m l''l 



From oral report of offic 



f tbe Chicaco Milk Producers' .\ssn. at a 



ng in Madison. \Vi^ 



m hilv. 1118. 



lU llii;ir> OF T!IF. WAR I-I'(i\ ACNirULTfRE 

ami ^(1 tiiailf ilic tm It pri.c <<\ tlif dairy cow ami the venl calf 
{,'rc.iti-r lii.iii I'vcT hftortv IIk' (li-cniira-iiiR Icituic^ ot dairviiiR 
liavc iiUM'iito! any proiimiiuod r:~c' in iho yrm.- of cows as (l.iir> 
i'..\vs and ilio rc-iilt i- tiiat tlu' meat \>inx' and ilif dair\ pfui' are 
dostr toeacli otliiT iliau normally, Tln' Icmiit,- many danMiii'ii 
to sell their cows for beef, a tciniit Uioii which most of theni have 
resisted 

'ihc mf.'rmation conccriiini,' the sacrifue of dairy herd- is 
nua.ner. in tlie cen-n- taken l>y the Stale cf New York in Apnl. 
1017. it was f..tind that there were more cow>, hy .1 per cent, 
thin the \ear hefore. There were ])lent\ of heifer- a year old 
.,r over t" keeji iij) the nuniher- fnr a tune. ( >f lu^ifer calves, 
however, there was a decrease of -'A jier cent reiiurti'.l. In the 
\Kiiiitv c,.' ('hicai;o tiiere has lieen a L;iea, deal <<\ tall: aI>Mut di>- 
prisin-; of dairv herd- A letter imm Swift and ( '. inpany at 
Chicago, dr.'ed Mar^ '1 1.^. I'MX. -tales that the nnmlier <'\ cows 
slanj,dner.'d hv tluin in the ti\e niM idi- |)recedinu' March 1. I'MS, 
was in relatKm to the whole niiinlier of cattle -lani^hiered ?.'> per 
cent, in c':itra-t to 5S per cent the year hefore I'or the curre- 
spondini,' nicnth- the -latmhter of caoes was a little le-- d;inn;^ 
the latter i)eriod than the year before 

■J he ti'tal luiniher of ca'\cs received at five leading markets 
during the calendar years 1013 to l'>17 were: 

ion ;'4inon 

1QJ4 (.i>4nOiT 

1015 '.'.'....'.'. r.V.IKKI 

1016 ovm) 

1017 1.18i'(M1() 

Thus iiiere has been an increase in the receipt of calve- i)\ 77 7 
per cent from the low listire of i<)14 to that of l'»17 I'rom I'MC) 
to 1017 there was an increase of 28 4 per cent in the receipt of 
calves at the five markets. Xot all of these calves were slan'.;h- 
tercd, though most of them wire. From Otiher. 1017. ti> 
I-"eliruarv, lOlS. Swift and Cdnipany rei)ort that SO per cent of 
calves received were slamrhtcrcd. This can mean nothini: other 
than a more genera! turnins:; of calves into veal. The P,nreau 
uf Crop l".-limates, however, in a statement i--ued February 1, 



Till; I N 1 1 1 1 1 



145 



I^IS, reports for the cnutitry an iiicroasc of 22 / per cent (liiniii,' 
l'M7 ,,i hciftT- kqit fcir iiiilW. 'I'hi'^ woiilil -\\n\v a ^troiij; 
teiKk'iicv Inward an increase iii milk jirMilmiK in. 

Wiiliin nianv ni \]\v ili-tnu lively (lan> St.ltc•^ sli<,'lit dccrcaM'-; 
ill the ininilur (.1 enw ^ are reported I'T l.iimary, I'MX, a> com- 
pared with jaiuiary, l'M7. In a k''"''!' "' ^''^^'^ eastern States. 
troin Marylan.l to Ma-arhn-eti-, dcerea-e-- ranyin^; from one 
to live per cent are sh.)\vii. All other States -how increases with 
the exception of Ohio and 1 e\a-> 

In indiVidnai in-taiues many cou^ lia\e Keen sold at lower 
prices on acconnt of the difticnllio over milk prKe-~ and the re- 
snltinj; di---ati>faction imi the part of the farmer^ However, the 
Department of .\;;ricnltmc report- ini.' 'taiil mcrea>e- in prices 
for Mili-tantially every State m die ri^ion. The average incre;'-o 
in value ])er head reporteil for the year l"ir to 1")1,S is Sll)"(> 
or IS. 4 per cent. This i. in eoiitra-t with an increase of but 
$4% in the value of all " ..rlier cattle." and S7 .Oh for " other cat- 
tle " two vear- old and o\er The reaction on the price of cows 
due to milk price di^ati-faction had appirerllv not materia'i/ed 
tip to lannarv 1. 1'>1S lloweve- it mn-t he rememhered that 
the discontent does not ajiplv to the whole dairy di-.trict. Imt only 
to the portions contrilmliii;^' to the city milk traile. As a con-e- 
([iience the figures for the whole country, or even I'or a Mmjle 
State, fail to retlect accurately the Mtuation in the-e important 
sections 

It niu-t he reco!,'ni/ed thai farmers are pinp to move -lowly 
m di-posiiis,' of their dairy eqnipment. The cost of rchnildm!: a 
here', the loss in fertility following the policy of selling grain, 
the inertia of farmer conservatism, ah act as deterrents. 



Tin- Conirol of Suqar 
The peoi)le of tlie I'nited States are great sugar caters 



lieim: 



outclassed in that regard hv three of the more di-tinctly F.ngli-h 
conntries. the United Kingdom. Canada and Australia, and hy 
the Danes. The p^r capita consumption of sngar in tin- conn- 
trv is a little over SO pounds a vear, varying from "*' to i^7 



146 



i;i-Ki:CTs OF TllH WAK I I'«1N AGKUri ILKi; 



pounds (lur-iii- the \cars 1909-1916. whereas hut one-fourth of 
tliat amount i^ pv. xl'.Kcil in CjUtuiciUal I'hiHhI Slates Another 
(|uariLT cniiie^i trmn our ni.-ular po."es-iiin>. while hall "i the 
suiiply cotiies ironi oilier countries, pruKipaily Cuba.' 

There would b-j no shorta.i^e oi >u-.ir in thi> country, and no 
occasion lor a >us,3^ control, were ii not f' r the situation of the 
Allies. Our own iiniiiednte sources are aiuple were we tn t;ike 
the entire supp'y. The >ngar trade of luirojie has, however, r.n- 
dergone a \erv i;reat transformation sir.ce the war began. I- or 
example, France had iiormaHv exported 100,000 tons of sugar 
and since the war has neeiled. but has nut had. 500.0(X) tons froi.i 
the outsitle niarket^.- 

Belgium had exported sugar, largely to England. Italy had 
imported .sugar, but only in small quantities. The important 
point in the European sugar trade was that the United Kingdom, 
using a total of J.GOO.DIO tops annually, imported half of her 
supply from (Germany and one-f'fth <if it from Austria. The 
balance came from I'rance. r.elgiun\ Rus-ia, Holland, Java, and 
in small amounts from other countries. Since 1914, these reg- 
ular sources of supply '-ive been almost entirt'iv clo-ed, wiih the 
result that the vast amount of sugar needed in the I'nited King- 
dom and I-"raiv,c has practically to como from the Americnn and 
Cuban fields. The Java sugar is too far away, as are the ^mailer 
cpiantitie;; in other scattered countries. Tlie additional demand- 
put upon the cane sugar nroducing countries i^ hardly >hort of 
2,000,(X)0 tons, or about une-si\th of the niaxitnuni product.-'' 
The beet sugar producing -reas of the world are very largely east 
of the fighting line in Frai e. 

Not onlv h.ave the ,\'lie<! countries appeared as buy.' - in the 
niarki ts ui which the I'nitc 1 States has been the leading cu-tomer 
in former years, but tliev b'.'.c come to America and a-ked for a 
share in the limited supply. Whereas wc exported but iii'ideiT.al 
amounts of sugar iiefore the war, we are exporting from oDiirOO 

» T/ic .-liyriciilttinil 9i7».7(nii / )r 707'? Part HI. ?ui;:ir. Dciiarliiicnt of 
ARric'iltiire, (.Ifficu of the Secretary, Ciroilar S(' 

'■ The Jl'irlJ's SuRar Suf>'lv, N'alioiul Bank of CoinnuTCi-. X > 



Till". rMlKU SlAll-.S 



147 



This is sn.^ar which ha> been imported 



to 800,000 tons a year 
ill a raw slate. 

It \\a^ fvuk-nt that an a,:j;recnicnt wonUl he necessary lietween 
this cuuntrv and the iuucpeau .\Uk- cr there wa^ danger (li 
working al'cruss purpu.^es. The l-'ond .\,hnini-tration promptly 
called tlie leading refiners of \inih cane and l)eet >ugar into con- 
ference and -ccnred from them agreements to place all sugar in 
the hands of the hood Administration lo he sold at \\hole^ale at 
$7.2S a hundred.' .\ National Sugar Committee wa> organized 
and a little later an International Sugar ("ommittee.^ The re- 
fincr- agreed to perform their -services for 1.3 a pound, approxi- 
matelv the prewar margin.'' 

The^e measures as>ured a supply at wholesale at a moderate 
figure. 'I'he next question was how to get it to the \w iple without 
a big increase. Already the retail price was mounting. 'I he 
Food Administration asked the President t<. ].ut all sugar dealers, 
so far as the l.iw permitted, under license. (Jn September 18, 
the rre-ident announced that it should be done, anil gave those 
holding sugar . hort time to dispose of what iliey had on hand 
before the license, and presumably a lower price, should be put 

into effect.'' 

In October, 1917, the curtailment of the use of sugar wa.i 1)e- 
gnn. It was then be'ieved that not very much reduction in the 
consumption for the year would be required. .\t fir-t the Food 
AdminiMration a:-ked that consumers use sugar sparingly, sug- 
gesting that 67 pounds a year would be a reasonable amount, a 
rcductitni of about 18 per cent below normal. Attention was 
called to the sugar controls of France and Fngland where one and 
two pounds, respectively, a monih per capita was the rule. 

The allowance per capita was soon cut far below the suggested 
67 pounds a year. Ju-t prior to July 1, 1-18. the Fo,m1 Admini--- 
tration announced that there was k-s sugar than had been antici- 
pated for u>c d-'ring the next six nionlhs. It would mean .i 

•Thl' iiricc ha. .icc been iikti-.t^oI. but not Rr<-:itlv ^ n . 

-(Maal litd:-t.... Scrtenibcr 18, 1917. and I'ood .\Jnnn.Mratum T.ulletm. 
Nov \^i) an.i ISJ. . 

' I'.iod ,\.lniini<lration. r.i:llitiri N<i. -ol. 
* Ibid., No. 2.i5. 



14.S 



i:fi-i:cts oy thk war iton .\GKicri.irKi-; 



L'V'J 



ater reduction than liad been c{>ntenii)latc(l. 'I'he limit of 3 

til was >et, w itli an additional 25 



[xiunds per person per nion 

pcniiids per family for canning. Commercial caniiers, candy 

makers, hotels and bakers were reijiiired to get certificates from 

the local foixl administrators indicating the ijiiantities they might 

buy. 

While the great majority of the retailers are not under license 
the I'ood .\dministration has control o\er the sugar and if the 
retailers do not li\e u 
cut olt'. 
rellner to con-umer. 



ip lo the rules the supply of sugar may be 
riius the plan of uistribution is virtually complete from 



Th 



,e retailers are allowec 



\v]iole:alc pr' 
Some months 



S 



UL 



ir 1^ 



1 to charge a reasonable margin over 
.\ui:ust, 1918, and lias been for 



Iniir lor 



Of, 



1 K) cents a jjouni 



Subsequent to the re; 



'ulation- 



published to take efiect July 1, 



101,9, the allowance per capita has been cut from 3 pounds to 2 
jiounds ]ier mMnth.-' and the allowance for canning cut to 10 
poiiinU or le~->, with corre-ponding reductions for the groups of 
sugar users >;ncli as confectioners and hotel keepers. 

Since >ugar i-; one of the products which can be had only at 
certain central points, the relineries, it is relatively easy to bring 
it under the l-ood Administration's authority. All of the whole- 
sale dealer^, being under license, arc re(iuired to deal liiroiigh the 
I'ood .\dmini-trator-. of their States, and the State Food Admin- 
istrators are in turn answewible to the National Coinmittce of 
the federal Fooil Administration. From reports secured froin 
local dealer.^ the State b'ood A(hnini>trators find how much sugar 
ha^ b''en u<ed in tlie pa^t few months. From this the allow.TUCc 
fur the time is determined. 

The sugar conirol seems to be a very genuine success. In the 
first place, the supply is made to go round and to last. In the 
second place it is being sold at a relatively ■iinall price, even though 
higher than formerly, instead of at some unknown high price 

> Food .Administr.ition, Bulletin Xo. 32i\ Sugar. July, 1918. 

2 •fiiii'riiim I'ood Journal. Tanuarv to AtiRiist issm-s. 

3 Food .Vdnnnistration, I'.ullctui X.v 1008, July lu. i^lg. 



THE t.NITKD STATES 



141* 



which in nil reason would (jbtain were it left to free speculation 
and probable monopoly. 

Other IiislcDiccs of Control 

Wool. Probably the most important undertaking in the way 
of controlling the sale and price of a ccnunodity other than those 
discussed above, is seen in the handhng of the wool clip of 1918. 
Prices had become so high, without seeming to have reached the 
upper limit, that the gcnernment took the case in hand and 
adopted the prices of July 30, 1917, as the prices for the year 
1918.' It is believed that these prices are high enough U> en- 
courage the sheep industry. 

Tziinc. The price of binder twine had risen by the spring of 
1918 to an extremely high figure. Before the war sisal unmanu- 
factured, cost the importers about " cents a pound. In 1917, it 
reached 19,'/' cents. The manufactured twine was selling for 24 
to 27 cents, when the Food .Xdministration set a limit at the fac- 
tory of 23 cents for standard twine. Since this action the prices 
have Ix'cn stable and somewhat lower/^ 

Agricultural Implements. The control over agricultural im- 
plements has not been directly in relation to price. It has been 
found that unnecessary expense has been put into man\ of them 
at the factory, particularly in the making of a great many need- 
less varieties of them. The Food Administration has eliminated 
2.000 different models as not required '' Among those to be dis- 
continued, for example, is the left hand plow. 

^Oacial BiiJIetin. Mav 2. 1918 

2 KVf/t'/v .Wrw Letter. Mav 22. 1918. 

^OfHcal Bulletin. .M.i\ 3, 1918. 



CHAPTER VI 
The Results of the Food Administration 

Si.\ii;Mi;\ r ni- Irs ()\\ x N'li.w's 

( )n January J.^, I'MS, the i'lful Adniini-tratinii --cut out a .state- 
ment (if its u'An views as tu results attaiiieil. J he ilDCuinent 

fulioWM ' 

Tlie accomplishments of the I'nitcd States Food Administration since its 
incep.ion some time after the bei;innin^; of the war last April have been 
sliglnly (litTcrent from the popular conception of wIku the> should h.ae been, 
though on tlie whole they liave been pretty much what the national and ni- 
tcrnational American interest dictated they should be. 

Slimmed up. the accnmplishments have been these; 

The Food Administration has handled the available American food sources 
and supplies with the supreme ultimate object of helping to win the war fur 
America and the Allies liy setting that food as abundantly produced, as care- 
fully conserved, and as economically and e'luitably manufactured and dis- 
tributed to strategic food points m tlie .American and Allied world as pos- 
sible. Its great task has been, is and will continue to be so to administer 
America's loud resources that .-Xmericar and .\llicd iimrale will nut be low- 
ered through lack of food. .Ml other considerations have been, arc, and will 
continue to he predicateil on tliis sin.cle object. It is the United States F-od 
Adniinistralion's principal excuse for existence. 

'lo effect this, the Food .Xdministration has had to do the best it could 
with the le.gal and other equipment with which it was imcstcd and which 
it possessed. To the provisions of the Food .\ct the .Xdministration has 
added nviral suasion and the powerful weapon of viduntary agreement based 
on personal interviews ancl discussions between its represent, lives and repre- 
sentatives cii the businesses and communities affected, concennug specific food 
commodities and conditions. 

With these utensils in hand, and the world food problem reduced to clear 
fj. i5 and figures which showed it wdiat specil'ic things it must do to accom- 
plish its supreme obieet. the Food .Ndministratiun instituted .m evlensne 
campaign to acquaint the .American public with the situation and to point out 
to it what its share in solution of the problem must be 

rriinarily, however, tlie great task begun with this equipment was to elimi- 
nate waste, hoarding, profiteering and speculation in the manufacture and 

' I'ood .Administration, I'ulletiii .\"o. ')5. 

150 



TIIK r.NlTEP STATI-.S 



131 



1 



distribution of nil lin=ic ioni\ rnmmoditics. To do thi>, \Ml11nt3ry nsjrecments 
to this cii'l wire ir.jdf wherever pussihle throusli iii'ire tliaii .iOO conferences 
with reiiresentative food men of all basic branclies. \n addition, the Food 
Adnimislrati"n a>siinied, by Presidential proclaniation, absolute control 
through a system of licensing of all importing, exporting, storage, nianufac- 
turiiit!, dist'-ihiiting and sales orKanizations, includiiiK retailers <loinK more 
than JUKUM) wcirth of business annually, of the twenty basic food products 
i.f the cuuiury. Lomitrywule reports show that the eliniinati"ii in this way 
of waste, hoarding, speculation and excess prolit has stabilized certain prices 
between producer and siiiall retailer and. on some eoii'.modities, between 
producer and consumer. Incidentally in some instances this price stabiliza- 
tion has reduced prices to the .\mcrican consumer. In the case of sugar, 
stabilization was effected between producer and consumer Ijy tixing the price 
of sugar at the jxiint of pmduction. 

In this and other branches of its work the Tood Administration has built 
up volunteer, unsalaried urgaiiizations of men and women peculiarly equipped 
by their business or professional experience, to put its plans and policies into 
ertect. Its ar lias ever been maximum accomplishment at minimum expense. 



In its direct relations with the general public the Food .Xdministration has 
aimed, through voluntary cttort on the part of tlie pulilic, to eliminate house- 
hold waste and ho.irding of food and to bring about saving and substitution 
in tlie use of the war fo'uls Allied Europe urgently needs — wheat, meat, 
fats, sugar and dairy prod ;cts. 

To this end it has enlisted as members of the U. S. Food .\dministration 
between ten and twelve million .Xmerlcan women. These home-makers are 
pledged to do their sh.irc in home conservation. How much they have done 
ran not lie estimated because specitic statistics are not yet avail.ible. but tlie 
added amounts of war foods available for shipment to F.urope proved that 
they, and the patriotic hotel, restaurant, dining car and boat people, also 
voluntarily enlisted in this conservation campaign, have done much. 

The invaluable cooperative work of the American press in fixing the food 
conservation idea firmly in the Individual .AmericTn mind has been supple- 
mented by a carefully planned eampaijii of putih, spe>king. pictures, pam- 
phlets and per-oual .ippeals to bring the vital wnr prolivm of food home to 
every citi'en. 

Above all. the Fonil \dministration has tried, and believes if has in large 
measure succeeded, witli the aid of the I'nitcd States OeparlmeiU of \gri- 
culture and other government and individual agencies, in stimulating produc- 
tion of needed war foods through appeals and encouragement to farmers to 
produce fo. d and by pointing out specifically to them what, wdiy and how much 
certrdn things were needed. 

It believes it ha- .ucceeded in .•idmini-tering those food supplies dready in 
existence so that they were sold wholesale at fair m.inufacturing and dis- 
tribution prices, while at the same time employing them to relieve as much 
as possible .Mlied Europe's .".rute and tlireatening shortage of wdieat. n^ ats. 



15. 



i;i-rKcrs (U-' iiii; \\.\ii ii'o.n ai.ku i i.irui; 



fats, biigar and dairv pruUucU, by sluiimi-iits ot tlmM- things from tiii» 
country. 

It LiclicNLS tliat tins vital aiul mccssary servKC has dibtiiictly liclped to 
sustain tlio iiiurali- (jI tlif AUiiU natiuns. It LcIkm-s llial what it has ac- 
iiiniiih>hc'l alciiiK thir, line is iirtiiniiiciuly the griatot ui it.-, ln.rlMrlllallc^.•.^. 

I'licc siiminariis sh.-w tliat the pohcy of ihtnmatiii.i; aiieciilation, hoanliiii;, 
proritccriiig and ^^a^tl• in the piudnctiuii ami di.-,irihuluin ul AiiicrKan iooils 
lias Krcatly aided in rcdncms ilumirstic prices ol haMC prodmls to rcasunalilc 
levels right ii]) to the door uf the smaller retailer. It nnist, however, be 
reiiHinlKrtd tiiat iTiiiianly thi^ jLilny u a^ ailoiited to reyulate production 
and distnlintiwii costs to better enable the hood .\diiiiuistraUon ti. di>cliaige 
its interiiatiiinal duly to the Aineiic.sn and .\llied woiUl. It L^ tr;!e lli.it .M.me 
control has been exercised over the sma'l ret.nler. Hut it mii>t lie remem- 
bered that this has been incidental to the larger serMce ol" supplung loud to 
the ci.tirc .\tr.er.can and .Mlicd world. 

.\ltho i-li II exercises by law no direct control, moral control has been 
e.xerciseil to an appreciable extent by warning liieiu [the retailer^l tluit il 
liny chari;cd proliteerinK prices they would Kct no more sipplus iroiu the 
wholesalers, who are by law ilirectly under Ko^crnment control. I hi:, lia^ 
had a salutary ciTeet on .ill small retailers, and although retail price> generally 
have been above their legitimate levels it is safe to ,s,i\ that they lia\e i.ot 
by any means been so high and unreasonable as they would li::ve bes n, li.id 
governmental control of productiim .-iiid di^trlbiuiou not existed. 

The retail price of su^ar is a c.i>e in point. It is typical til tb.it i;roup of 
Cdinmodities whose prices have been held to fair levels through the small 
retader and direct to the consumer's door, kermers h.ue stated that li.id 
rot the I'oo.l Adiiiiuistraticni controlled the price and distrfl)Ution of su«ar 
It would have .i;ot:e, jiiduiuL; by previous war experiences, to 20, 25, .^0, or 
even 35 cents a pound instead of sia\ini,', as it h.is. between '* and 12 cents 
a pound retail. When you >top to con-ider lliat i\ery iieuu)'- ri^c m tlie 
price of a pound of sugar means SlH.dOd.tlllO t.iberi out <d the lonsuiuer's 
pocket; and when you recall tli.it what has been done was d.uie in ti'e l.ice 
of an actu.d sugar shortage in the .\nii rican and .\llied war worM. this per- 
formance was no mean accomplishuieui. 

Then there is the matter of l.iead The bakiu'.: industry au'ic that if 
the government had not taken control and elniunated specnl.itiou. waste, 
hoardinj' and profitcc-ing from the milling and baking trades, thus reducing 
wholesale prices to reasonalile levels and making that reduction inllnencc 
retail prices, the retail price of a pound loaf nf white bread would he not 
less than 15 cents throughout the I'nited St.ites to(In.\'. It sells actual!\ for 
from 7 to 9 cents everywhere in the l.ind. 

I'.eforc the war a dollar's vvo.th of bread in the United .'states rc|)rcsented 
about 40 cents' worth of actual ingredients, labor and distribution cost. So 
that with every dollar's worth nf bread purchased by a consumer before the 
w.ir be was biiving (>() cents' worth of waste, siieculation and excess prolits 
of which he did r.ot derive the betierit. A 7, 8 or cent loaf of bread in 



I 



Tin: INI 1 I.I) MATES 



133 



tlu- I'niteil States today, ili:iiik?, t" tlif I'nitoil States I'ood Adminisf.Mtion, 
rt-presfiUs cxiutly 7, « or 9 ceiit^' uorili uf iiiatL-riaU, labor and di>tril)Ution 
coat. 

I-'edtral idiitri'l. accnliiii; to national i,tati>tics, snccccdcd in tiirninK the 
corner in these uiircis.mahly Injih prices about the middle of December, 1917. 
Il lias since succeeded ill keeping wholesale prices of coiitrolleil commodities, 
and re.lail price- ..f the -.aiue a.uoiiK retailers doins n;..re than JlUU.dO'l worth 
cif bii'-iness annually, at lau and reaM>iiable levels. This has also en ef- 
tecteil 111 pari amoiiK small retailers. 

It shodd be borne in iiimd. however, that i. .a; tune reasonable prices 
do Hit lucis-anly mean lou prices. The war time trend of prices, particu- 
larly in the face of ihe act :al world shortaKCs in the present war. is ever and 
inevitably upward The mily tiling any human agency can do ni the present 
situation IS to keep I In wholesale, and so far as possible the retail, prices 
separated from tie in-t nf production and distributi' m oiil> b.\ tie mari^iu 
of a reasonable proht. 

l-'inally. the I'liiled Stales I'ck : .\diuini~tration feels that the .\iucrican 
public should constantly bear in mui.l the fact that this (piestion of retail 
l>rues, thonKh one of keen and Mill mlcrcst to the individual, and our of 
thns* the n"verniuent will de:.! with in due time, is not so vital as the broader 
problem of winning the war by squarinR our food supply with our inter- 
nalional interest. 

(.'KirUTSM .Wli CiiM.MK.VT 

The .tImivc- (luc'iinu'iit ,ui\c- a iiiclurc d' the l-"no(l .Vdininistra- 
tioii as ^cc■n 1)\- itself. Siuik' nf ilic .T-scTtnuis may scciii to lack 
support, aibl sonic niav even lack tlic appearance ol scientific 
accuracv, as for instance ilie statement to the effect that llie price 
of bread hefore the war contained 6(1 per cent of " \v;i>t -pccnla- 
tion and excess profits." 

Mr. 1 lonver has made il plain to the .\niericaii people on niany 
occasions that he d' le^ not believe in foiul re,iLrnlation> except .as 
a war measure. " It i-- tlie les> of e\:K " " its Im-iness is to 
soften the shocks ni war." Mr. lltiover. not havint: niiicli faith 
ill o,,veniment re,i;nlation exceirt in tlie c.ise of dire need, naturally 
does IT t look for perfection in its ()]>eration. lie seems to think 
thai in normal times the competitive (jrice is necessarily the fair 
j)i ice. 

Manv will .i^ni f.arther than does Mr. Hoover in the faith that 
the government is ;ilile to oiiide competitive forces to the ad- 
vantage of the countrv, \ et few indeed hail the courage to ridvo- 



154 



rii-Kcr.s (ir tiik wah i-i'iin- AoRici-i.TrKF. 



cate as a war measure so fundamental and elaliorate a prc.j,Mam 
as lie Iia> put iuii. practice. One of the striking,', aliU(!st incred- 
il.Ie, lactsalKiUt tlie year of history imw pa:-t furtlie Fo.hI Admin- 
istration is liie lack of an\ (h-a>tic criticiMU in the press of the 
country. Xeaiiy everythm- in print is in the nature either ,.f 
e.xplanatidus or commendaiions. 

I he t.i^k undertaken was Herculean. It was at once neces- 
sary to -tnunlate production and h.ild prices within reach of the 
consumer. The mo>t hafflinj,' prohlem in almost everv particular 
was that of tran.sportafuii.' Speculation threatened to raise the 
prices of several of the mo>t necessary articles of food to pro- 
hibitive levels so far as pc.or peojile were concerned. U'v^h prices 
would w(,rk out an automatic conservation without doulit, but it 
would mean starvation fur the poor and lu.xury for the rich.' 
1 he stocks ui liour, meat anil d.iiry products were scarce enough 
so that bold speculator^ would ^urely have made the attempt to 
stej) 111 and iiionoiidli/e the supply to the damage of home peojile 
and .\llics. 

Price tixini,' lias its dangers and dit'tlculties. Attempts have 
been made to determine prices on a ba,>is of costs, which process is 
mamly uiiMnind. Nevertheless, we have pas.sed through a vear 
of shnrt.ige of many of the common necessities. We have fed 
the .\llies, and have escaped bread riots at home. We have in- 
duced the farmers to produce more than ever before. The Food 
Administration has not been re-jxnisible for all of these results, 
but it has iilayed a prominent roie in them, and while there is no 
way of telling what would have happened liad the conditions 
been otherwise, it is safe to assume that without the food Ad- 
ministration we would have had more profiteers, and less food to 
send across the .\tlantic. We have sat at the table with the .Allies 
..•. i divided the l-af. Had we through a ..elfish or weak policy 
cornpelled the Kuropean .\llie> to get their food from the di.stan't 
markets of the world, in other words, had cr.miietition set the 
price at which wheat, for example, should sell in the world s mar- 

' I'nod Acltiiini'ittTif'nn. Ri.iH.jti.i X<). \S. 



THE rNITKD STATES 



155 



kct, and shipping had hccn k-ft free to j;i) where it wmild. the 
piol>abihty is that America wmild have eaten more wheat, at a 
hij,dier price, and we would have had no soldiers m hrance. It 
reiiuired an adnnnistration with a world vision, and with no inter- 
est in prolits, to devise a i)lan whereby the world could Ite fed, 
and the energy centralized on the one problem of winning the 
v,ar. 

Incidentally, wc are learning many things about marketing and 
how it may be simplified. It will he the obvious duty of all con- 
cerned to devise means of keeping these shorter and less expen- 
sive ways open after the war. X(j doubt, this will mean a con- 
tinuation of some measure of the regulation which is now in 
vogue. 



CHAPTER VII 

War Prices and the Intensity of Cultivation 

It ha> many linifs been a.N>t.Tl<.cl iliat lii,t;li prices will result in 
a more mlen>i e cultuation ot the mhI. Intensive ciiltivatidn of 
tl.e soil means a more complete or paiiistaknij,' iisc of the soil in 
teriiK of the labor and capital applied to it. As a general prin- 
ciple It 1. safe to say that the scarce factor will be used tin most 
fully as compared to the less dithcult factors to obtain. That is 
to say. we will naturally u^e labor economically when it is - ,ice 
and dear. We will ,1,, ,„iiy the most necessary w<irk. An effort 
\vill be made to spread the labor over as nuuh j^nniiid as it -an 
cover, l-or example, one man will drive four horses instead of 
providing a man for each twodiorse team. Many pieces of work 
will be left undone such as hand wecdinfr, or jjatherini,' scattered 
Ijus vi hay or frrain, because it docs not pav This 'is another 
uay of saym-,' that the laiul will I,e less carefully worked than 
when labor is abundant. 

At the present time labor is not theorcticallv, lait actually scarce 
Conversely, land is plentiful. True, products are hi<;h in price 
Inn a t.irmer capable of thinkin- will revolve in his mind the 
relative advantane of working ?. given nutnber of acres with 
great care or a larger number (,f acres with something like ■ t- 
d.n.ry care, and since he will pay the rent with fewer bushels, 
or tons, at the present time as comiKired with former years is 
l.kely to decide that there is more pay in a larye acreage than in 
added w.uk on a given area. Likewise the diare renter will feel 
that the high prices will warrant him in getting as many acres as 
possible at work for him. The share renter is never tempted 
toward cNiruiie intensity of cultivation since for all exertions be- 
yond tho.c which clearly pay. the landlord will get as miu b as 
lie' hmiseif, and such a division of reward i. not tempting. Theo- 



Tiir tNiTrn states 



157 



rctitalls. rcii[> do iioi clianyc a iMpidly .i-> <l'i the | •'ice'^ of pm- 
(liRH-. Iveiits are projeittd at least ximuwliai iiiIm the s iturc and 
lontaiii, thcri-lMic, a sianilativc tdi-iiictit. A tenant - nnt tcnipiiil 
to urtt 1 a tasli n.i)tal l>a?,cd on aljnornially liiyli pruc-^ -in. in the 
very nature of ihe case aliiiornial prices are likelj t . nti rn to 
III an, ,1. If Illinois land rents lor $10.(X) an acre, on the liasis 
of 90-eent corn, it is by no means Ruing to rent for $20.00 an acre 
wilt n Corn sells ■•a $1 Nd per bu-iiel. I'ruliahly tlii- means an 
added pr. .tit to the renter paying cash. To the >h.ire renter there 
nia_\ also lie an .idded ]iri'(it uithont anv ch. ige in the proportion 
going to the lamllord, but on the other liaiid. the e\i)eiiM-, of the 
tenan;. sin ■ he furiii-hes both labor ai d equipment, have ri>en 
more than lia\e the expenses of the landlord. Thi- does not ])re- 
vent the l;mdlord front trying to t'et a largi , share of the croj). 
and this ni.iny ill .itiempt just as ^arely as tenants prosper under 
present conditions. 

The farm ojicrator, ulRtlier tenant or owner, who can see his 
wa\- clear to get the crop of ordiiiar\- -i/e out of an added ])iece 
of land by doing the work ''n the ciistomnry routine m, inner, will 
be much mor- likely to fin. the opportun 'v of exp.inding by ;his 
means th:m by tryng -ome new mean ot making the former area 
produce more per icr- It takes more imag'irition. more faith, 
and usuall\- moie .ipr. ' to do anything of a -ii:nal nature in the 
way of intensive cultivntioi than in the wav of extensive cultiva- 
tion. The lernH intensive and extensive are strictlv relative. 
What would ha\e been called intcn'-i\e a half centi:-v ago is 
viewed as extensive now. Scientitic progress is m;ide s! )w1y. and 
the farmer who r- ads and hears th.it eiglry acres well tilled is 
more protltable than a quarter section not so well tilled is nearlv 
;il\\ ys skeptual, and goes ahead with the quarter section. Half 
the time at le.ist he is right. The more intensive cultivation pa\ s, 
but it jiays the man who is a ':ipted to it and not the one who is 
not 

So in these t nes of rapidly rising prices of farm products, 
getting the work d ne is the dilTiculty. Labor is likelv to be 
scarcer next vcar tli.in this vear. and ^o .m. till the maximum of 



158 



EFFECTS (Jl 1 11 



1. \\ M' I l'(l.\ AiiHIC II.TIliK 



iiiilitarv t 



Ifwrt 



i-' riMi liivl. Willi f 



till- iiiti'lisUy (it iiiltn.ilioii u 
uIktc til 



cuir lalinrfr> ..u ,i "i\cii larni 



111 rvl.ix (it iR'i 



MlV. 



( 111 till' 1 



iiiii-, 



c ml 



-iijiply i>f lahiir liaiipi'ii, to \k uiiiiKik'stcd there will 
l.i- a >trnn^' inantuc to cNpami the acrea;^e it within readi tlure 



are iiKire aire; 



ol 



ihk 



11 



lere will not 



lie a (leMfe (in tlu 



a K'f'it miinber of larnier', tu j;( 



raw land tdr ciili 
promptly. It C(i>ts ti 



davs (if :f,VCHi a d 



part 
Hibi the ta>k of prepariitj,' 
f)r(Jinisc to come 
■ 1 iiiikli to mo\e .tiinip- and stones in these 



i\alioii unless the returns p 



ly nun to make it 



stance- lint with >,'rain and live stock 



seem i)rolitalile in mn-t in- 



ai a record price it looks 



tempiiii- to main farmer- to j;et hold of an added tract of 1 

ahove jjreuar prices and prow an add 
tity of f^rain or hay even thonph labor an 



terms not -'reatlv 



md on 
led iRian- 



ad\ aiuei 



I in 



id macliiiier\- h;ue also 



price. 



I liere are numberless instances in which 



more land is not read- 



ily jirocurable. Will the extensive tendency he 
It will not. ( )n the contrary where added acres are not available 
iliere w il! be a very stnuii,' tendency to turn the acres aire 
the farm to the hi-hest use. There will be f 



re mam test itself 



adv 111 



slack 

to make tl 



in ]ia>turc and mead( 



ewer acres leit doim,' 
More labor will be needed 



lem [irodiice cultivated crops, and it mav not be forth- 



coming,', but where bv iisiii'' more 



ma 



by niakinj; a j,'reater effort in anv fea>ibl 



chinery or anotiier horse or 



tl 



le cliaru'c i- >nre li 



mad( 



Th 



dox of both int 



e manner it can be done, 
ve have the seetnini; para- 



eiisive ;ind exteiisue tendencie; 



H 



nothini; str.inse. It is more tli.in likelv that both tend 



owevei', this is 



encies are 



bva\-s at worl- 



On the f,' 



Inch can be expanded in accord- 



■ohaliie 



ance with the iirinciple above explained it i'^ altof,'ether pr 

that at some statue in the operations there will occur to the man- 

iLTcr occasions for doinc; more intensive work than has Iwen 



his habit. II 



ay. tor examji 



.S-'IIOO a ton 



he ha 



fortunate enou.^h to rent 



heen 



Ijoinint,' meadow at $7 U) an acre. 



He probably will put the lia\ up with the U'-c of hav loading im 
chinery rather than by the more ap[irovcd ii.and methods, but he 
is likely to .i^ivc the field a tinal rakini,', ronlrarv to his custom 



TIIK LMri:i) .^rATKS 



159 



Lccaubc an extra tun ul" hay is lunv wnrtli ?_'i)U() instead of 
$10.00. 

The total acrtaj:' if tlit country which is Ix-inj^ farnicil has 
expanded a little ' iiig the pa^t few years. The amount of 
lalxir available for farm-, is sunieAhat less ilian usual, fmni which 
it follows tliat a j;ene;al move toward niure intensive culture is 
out of the (luestion. 



CHAPTER VIII 
The Effect of the War on Agricuhural Prosperity 

A fjlaiue at the export taiile will reveal at oncp the great in- 
crease in the (leiiiaiui for the products of the farm Never before 
was there such a ^uddeu and pronounced expansion of the agri- 
cuhural market. Reckoned in dollars the amount of exports of 
l')17 exceeded those of the year preceding the war hv 164 per 
cent. In other words, where there was one dollar's worth of 
pnxluce sold al.roa.' in 1913. there were $2 64 worth .sold in 1917. 
Tiiis i,-, merely a criterion. The hulk of the farmers' sales are 
not to !■ uropeans hut to the i:on-far ing papulation of the United 
States, .\ssuniing that in thi.s market the same amounts of pro- 
duce all told were -old from year to ye.nr the rei cipts would vary 
with the price (^f the fue leading cereals 'he increases in price 
from March 1. 1014, to March 1. lOlS, ranged from 70 per cent 
for oats to JJ.=; per cent f, r rye.' Cotton rose 140 per cent : ha\ 
50 per cent. 

In the [)rir<.-s of animals and anim.il products, the increased 
prices were pronounced, hut .lot so much so Uogs rose almost 
10() per cent: heef cattle 3S! ,S per cent: milch cow'. ?4 per cent; 
sheep 1.^0 per cent: w )oI 264 per cent. Horses, alone, sh,)w a 
slight decrease. 

The total value of farm products for 1917 is esti:nated hy the 
nc!)artment of Agriculture at .'^19,444.000.000. This value is 
reached twenty-one years in advance of the time when ,it the rate 
of increase of the perind l,s;sii_iooo >;,„.h ^ ^um wouh' have heen 
ohtaincd. The value of farn) products in 1015 ,-ose a liillion 
<loll,ir- over the v.due of the preceding year This was looked 

1 The Dep.irtnicnt of .Xsrinilture reports an incrc,T?e in the nr^c of .ill 
rerenls from I„lv, mir,. ,n IQIS. r,f 08.^ per rent Of nnat animal.s for the 
same time /(l.i jier cent. Monthly Crop Report. Inh, IO18. 



TIIK INnri) STATKS 



161 



upon as plienomcnal. ISut the 1<M6 product outdid this increase 
nearly three times over, while the 1917 production exceeded that 
of l'M6 by six hillion ('ollars. The estimate for the 1910-1914 
averai^e product was $y,389,(X)0,a)0. Thus the value of the 1917 
product was more tlian double that of the prewar period. 

It must not be ^upposed that the farmers received these sums 
as the income for the years designated. There are nianv duplica- 
tions in the figures, particularly with respect to grain and live 
stock. However, the figures serve to show tiiat the gross income 
of the fanners as a whole must have about doubled between 1914 
and 1917. For those who sold cotton or grain the income more 
than doubled. For those who turned grain and hay into live 
stock, or live stock products, the gains, while great, were rela- 
ti\ely less. 

The net income is the ./ue ba'-i'^ of cnni[)arison bv which \o 
show the change in prosperity. To tind the net income it would 
be necessary to know the expenses f)f production. This is a task 
1' hich would require better facilities than have yet been provided. 
J fowever, there are some facts at hand which will throw much 
light on the subject. The weighted index for the i)rices of 
crops in 1918 is 1 1 1 per cent above that of 191.r' The increase 
in general living expenses has been enormous, but it is still below 
100 per cent for the same period. The Department of .Agri- 
culture pub'ishes a list of prices of 94 articles purchased bv farm- 
er.s. Of these articles, including almost everything from plug 
tobacco to tlour, and from v heelbarrows to manure spreaders, 
there are but five that cost over tv ice as much in 1917 as in 1914, 
while ?i2 cost less than one and a half times as much. This 
shows that the Imlk of the [uirchases cost somewhere from 150 to 
2(X) per cent as much during 1*M7 as th-ee years earlier ' 

The quantity of goods purchasable with the products of one 
acre of crop is al-^o of interest. In but seven instances out of the 
94 would the product <if an acre in 1917 buy less than in 1914. 
These exceptions are in part important, and in part very unim- 



U'ecUv Xars Letter. M.irch l.V lOm 
i Montlily Crop Report, Marcli, 1017 



162 



KFFIiCTS or TIIF. \V.\K ITdN ACKUTl.TrKK 



jiortant. 'I'Ik'v arc; lanl, calico. mu>lin, carbolic acid. Paris 
{^rceii, hemp rope, and binder twine. In no instance does the 
tjreater iiart of a farnier's income p," intn any or all of these. 
1 lie index nuniher, based on 96 articles of general consumption, 
rose from 9)^3 fir August, 1914, to 18.0/ for March, 1918. 
This shows an increase of 8.V+ ner cent, and is not greatly differ- 
ent from the advanc' in farm products taken as a whole. 

Since 1914 the expenditure for labor has increased about 33V'i 
per cent The labor cost is greater than any other item of cost 
in producing farm animals and crops. It is therefore of great 
significance that the labor cost has lagged behind other costs. 
Taking all things into account it is safe to say that the producer 
of primary products, such as grain, or cotton, is getting much 
more for his efforts than tver before. In the matter of animal 
products the hog producers arc clearly getting greater returns 
than ever before even though they fail to realise the highest 
quoted market price for their corn marketed in this indirect way. 
Tiiey have, however, marketed a vast amount of •^oft unsalable 
corn at a verv good figure. The cattle prices do n<n suggest 
greatlv increased incomes, but again by feeding cattle a gi .'at 
(leal of grass and soft cc^rn is disposed of at a fii. ire mi. -h 
aiiove anything that would be possible by direct sale. Sheep and 
wool have sold at ]irices greater relatively than the co^t : cows 
and dairy products at prices not so greatly increased as the ge.-- 
eval increase in co'^ts. 

A factor of no small consefiuencc ;n the field of net gain is 
th:;t of the cost of kmd. The values oi 1 iiul. either sal'" price or 
rentiiv I't-ce have not kept pace with the general increases. In- 
terest '.tc li.-'ve chan;.;cd but little. Thus a man who owns land 
encinnliercd b\ a nio.tgage. or who rents for ca^-h. pavs less in the 
foriv. of labor, crop, or ;ininial product for the use of the land 
than he formerly ])aid 

I';verytliing coii^dcred it i- s.Tfc to <av th.it the f;irni:rs a-- : 
making nione\ fa-ter than tlicv e\er did In fore. How much 
faster is not a matter easy to determine. In the case of those 



m 



lilt; LNITKI) STATF-S 



163 



wlio liabitually pay nut for living,' expenses alxnit nil of their in- 
come the MtiuituMi hUb changed very little. Ihey will still pay 
out most of the iiMiiey taken in, since living expenses have ad- 
vanced nearly as much as the jirices o." farm prcjduce. However, 
for iliuse who have had previon^lv some margin with wliich to 
pay (lei)ts, or make investments, there is now an opportunity to 
pay debts or make investments at a rate much faster than before 
the war. In other words, tne man who wa^, able to pay a dollar 
i.l indebtedness, or invest a dollar, befc^-e the war can now use 
two dollars for such purposes. The man who just made a living 
before the war can just make a living now. 

It may appear at t'ir.-,t glance that the farm laborer is not get- 
ting his share of the increased income. An important considera- 
tion in this connection is that he gets the maior part of his living 
along with his waives. Thus while he gets but four dollars where 
he formerlv got thrte dollar-, he can ■^ave the entire addition, or 
nearlv so. Should land fail for several years to make a.dvances in 
price corresponding to tne increased value of the product it would 
seem that the farm laborer shmild l>c able to enter the tenant stage 
a little more promptly than during the past few \ears Rut more 
certain is it that the tenant of (o-day should be able sooner on 
account of the war to make the necessary initial payment on a 
piece of land and -o rise from tenancy ' i land ownership. How- 
ever, land is showing a tendency to rise somewhat in value even 
now and should the war continue several >cirs more undoubtedly 
the feeling that high prices have come to stay will reflect itself 
in higher land prices. 

Tin- view that the farmer is prospering through war conditi' is 
is predicated on the assumption that the farm labor is available 
with which to get the work done, and that the scarcity of labor 
will be met in part by the introduction of labor saving machinery. 
Again the prosperitv is dependent on tiie ability of the transporta- 
tion agencies to keep the freight of the country in motion. This 
has not yet become an acute question s,, far as the ni.dn agricul- 
tural operations are concerned, but as in the case of potatoes, 



■I 



1; 



164 



1.1 l-l-.CTS (I 



!■■ TIIK \V.\K ITON AlIKirri.Tl'UI-: 



tlie ([ticsti' 



il tr:iii>i)()rt:Uiiin 
1 piiitits (ir siTiiius 



tiiav liucome tin- (kHidin.i: ninttiT 



WCt'Il LTI'IH 



arc (in a ratlKT prccai mu- 



s>C> 



I'learlv tlic ai 



d<k 



prolits 



hnilKlalll'Il. 



To sugjjest that tlu--e - iiucwhat tliccrotical views cimcorninj; 
the pmspcritv <>{ tlic lamuT^ are imt witlmnt lonmlatiun mention 
iitav l)e iiiaile ot' t!u part lliat tlie i inner- cf Wisconsin, who i ..ve 
paid aliiidvt \ni iiicunie taxes under the State income tax law. are 



the federal 



income 



payinj:; alioni a million dollars in 1918 under 
tax law. An income tax collector reports that : "Tin hii;h co^t 

•rsl 



ot laitter. cliee<e 



and 



has ■riven manv of them ' t'-.e farii 



lar_i;e incomes, part of which thev owe the State.' ' lie mi.yht 
lietter have enlartred die einimeratioii of the sources of iucc le in- 



cluding tobacco, 
farmer's income 
otit,t;u. 



lilt, and live -tocl 



Imt It 



i)lai' that th 



reatl\ increased even li 



his 



' Milwaukee S,-iiliiul, .\iigiiM 15, 1')18. 






PART II 
THE UNITED KINGDOM 






J 



INTRODUCTION 

F(ir manv dccaiK's tlu- rniteil Km^'>lnm had l)cen clcix'tide-n «n 
the outside world for a !ar-e proportion of its fo(td. 1 hi> de- 
pendence developed aecordinj,' to econuinic laws aloii.i,' with its na- 
tional policies. The undreamed of ma^Miitude of the world wa.r 
made this dependence for fo-d critical in the life of the nation 
It is in the reaction to the food situation, which reached its cli- 
max in the spring of 1''18, that we are chiefly intere-ted. 

First of all arises the (juestion. How did (Ireat Britain drift 
into such a critical situation" The statement of the prohleni is 
logically followed hy u statement of the ways in which the situa- 
tion was met. These ways, in aildition to continuation of im- 
port- of food were. ( 1 ) hy increase in domestic production, and 
(2) Iiv control over consumption. 



i! 



i67 



CHAPTER I 
The Trend of England's Food Problem before the War 



At th 



e liottdin ot the w 



hole I 



irolilein i: 



Clrcat r)rit:iin's ncknoN 



edf;e(l siiprcniacv of the st.i'^ for nmre than tun huiiilred years, in 
resiicct to hoth its navy ani 



1 its merchant inarnic. 



naw di.'- 



veloped with its trade. Its trade was made iKivsil)le by it.s mer- 
chant marine, which, traveling: the liij^h seas, carried enterjiri-inij 
I-:n"li>lunen hearin;; the I'-ritish flap; to all parts of the ),doIie 



I 



nun the>e tra(hnL; (>ut])( 



-t^ the riiiti-h r,ni])ire developed, and 
1)\- reaMin of the-e connections the rnitcil Kinijdom became the 
indnstrial center of the I'.mpire and of the world. With the 
rrowfli of iiidn^try stiniulated by the profit.- of worldwide trade. 



.iltnre declined in relative iinp.irtancc. I'ree 



trad 



e came to 



lie accepted as neci . sary 



at;ricultnre, 



outcome ot tlie doc 



to the welfare of the nation; it wa- the 
trine .if industrial libertv. F.nsrlish 



thou.yh naturall\- at a disachantnsc compared with 
tlie territories opened up to liritish trade, '■ould not c'aim ini- 



mtniitv iron 



1 tlu 



:d , 



irmcii) 



le of free trade. The 



in ni( 



lustrv wanted chca]i 1 "kI, and they fjot it tlirongh trade 



ne nie\'i 



tabl 



e result was 



exchanj.je for manufactured f^joods. 

that farniiiif; in the l.'nite.l Kin.::;dom became relatixely unprot'it- 

alile and stopped tjrowinp. 



l,.ani,'es in lini,dish afjriculturc became <i' 



-tincth 



noticeable 



icn the large quantities of cheap r;rain from tht newly de\ elopi 



,e market in c( nipc 



d 



tition with 



American jirairic- were placed on tlu 

home 1,'rown trrain. After 1S70, the imports of .American ijrain 

were sufficient in i|uantit\- and -o low in price that I-'n.clish farm- 



ers were obliiJc< 



to] 



)ro( 



hi 



cc at a li'<s or iio out oi business. 



result was that the less dc-irnblc wheat lands we'e devoted to 
other uses, mostlv being laid down to grass. In IS.'i the acreage 
ilow lar.d in Great liritain was at its maximum, 13,S.V),CH"«) 

168 



■.f 



THE r.MTKU Kl.\(.I"iM 1^*^ 

acres in extent. In 1''14 the acreage of plow land was K),3(Y).00<') 
acres, or twenty six per cent less than in \^72. the difference henig 
accounted for by a corre-poiulinj,' increase in the area under grass. 
The prices of annual products were relatively higher than those 
of grain, which induced the P.riti.sh farmer to seed his wheat land 
to grass to feed his live stock, and e\en to l>iiy x.ine of the feed 
in the form of mill by-products from America. 

Attention is directed to wheat because wheat is the most im- 
portant grain grown in the I'nited Kingdom, and Ijecause of its 
importance m the food supply. 

The per capita coii-uniinion of wheat in the L'nited King<lom is 
about 3()0 pounds, or about six bu-hels per year. (This is ap- 
proximately the same ;is the per capita conMimption of wheat m 
the United States ) The importations if wluat and llour into 
the United Kini;dom have increased steadily from 1S61 to l')16. 
as is shown by the f(,llo\\ing table of live year periods to U>10. 
the three vears before the war. and the fir-t three war years. 

Will AT IMrORT.\TIO\S OF TIIF. rXITF.D KlNT.nnM 

■XvhkM.E .\NM A1. iMl'CKTS I'HR C.MMT.\. FLOIR ReDCCED Ti ITS WHEAT 

F'jClVALENT 

P.iimds PoMHcIs 
V,,,r, .\ve. .\nntial Yi-.ir'; .AvcAnmial 
]^(,i ]«<,; 1,15 1891-180.S -'81 

\m,-\s-h ■.::::: i.w ^f^'x>-]'^>o -;«-.6 

187i_itJ7s 1"« l'^()1-19fb ^'^' 

x7(,-lS8n " 21.1 !0(¥>-l'^!n -W 

]m-\m :::::::::: 244 miA'^u -;''4 

188(,-18W 2.V) 1V14-1Q16 2.18 

The s'ight falling off in the last period is partly due to the 
extra large crop of I'M? and partly to ditticulties of transporta- 
tion incident to the war. 

Coincident with the increase in the importations of wheat there 
was a decrea-e in production of wheat at home. The extent of 
this decrease is indicated by a decrease of fifty-four per cent in 
the area sowed to wheat in the United Kingdom in forty years 
For ihe four vears l.%7 to 1870, the average annual acreage of 
wheat was .^.837.000 ac-es; in 1880 it had declined to 3.000.000 
acres, while for the five years previous to I'M 1 the annual average 



il 



170 



EFFECTS OF III!' W \K ll'dS .\(;i;l( i I II KK 



U .1- 



■nlv 



1.7(iii.(">i) 



I)ninis; ilii^ pcvid iIk- iiiipulali' 'ii 



li;iil iiKTi'.i^til aliniit lliiri\ pt f niit. 



|irc\ iDti 



l\. 1 



1111 ii"t 111 ri'i'fiii \<.\ir^, ilcMiU'i 



t') 



wlu'at li.is liiiii in l.ir;^*.' [lart l.iul dnwii in k'-'^^. ili'H.i;!' mdiis- 
trit'> have ali-i ^i lii.il iiiiiMiitaiil tracts dt lan<l 

( )tli(T ^laiti^ lia\a- ^iitlcrcd a decrcaM' iii acrcaf^c in the fare n\ 
AniiTuan ciiiiii)i.titii pii. Ilarlis, fur (.•xaiiipk'. occuijicd in ISSl. 
J,(j6_',nU() arri'>, hut trll in ll,■^^ than _',()( mi.i i( hi acics \.,r m.iiic 
Vfar- licfori.- the uar. 1 hu aiTi'aj^c of nat^, on the oiIrt liaiid 
\\a^ ratluT >tcad\ I'nr :i Innt; period; in IS.Sl ii ua^ 4.,^()7,(K)() 
am'--, in l'H)l. i; was 4,1 1_', 000 acre-, and for the I'wv years pre- 
\inii> In I he w :ir averaged 4,0,^,^,' .i >n aere--. 

riie i]nt,itn acreaj,'e deelnud I'rntn 1.444,n(K1 in ISSl to 
l._'_',\000 in l"'(il, and iiirili t m ].lsr,.(i(»() acres as a live year 
prewar a\era^fe. I'lRrc ue e ih.inues in the vefjetahle cm])--, hut 
these make only ;i small ?liowiii^ in the acreai^e of cnltivateil land 
in tile I tilted Kini^dnm. 

.\< indicated ahove, much land which had heeii in p;rain was in 
j,r-iss in !<)!4. In 1867-1X70 there had heen _'7.'ISS.OOO acres 
nf Ljr.iss l;in(I. iiic'inliiiL; meadnws in rntatinti as well as permanent 
pastures and ninwni^'s. 'This area had heen increased hy 1014 
to 33,'L'5.0riO acres ( live year averaf^^e i. an increase of nearly .-^i.K 
imllinii acres, nr .ihniit iwent\-nne per cent. 

In addition tn the -hiftnii; from arahle land to f^rass there was, 
nntil IS'M, an incre.ast in the total cnhi\ated land, due tn reela- 
inatiiin nf m;irslies and heath, lint suliscqiient to 1N')1 there has 
lieen a stead\ sin.ill annual decrease in the tnt.il croj) area amount- 
ing,' to as mu'di as ,i millinii ami a half actes liy 1914. .\ cntisid- 
erahle part nf the later dccve.ise tna\- he accounted fnr hy ah- 
sorption fnr industri;ii ;ind ntJuT non-at^ricnltur;il purposes. 

Hntisli farmers met the cniiiju-titinn of cheap j;rain hy reduc- 
insj;' their trraiti acreafje to tlmsi- fields which were most produc- 
tive, and turniiiL; their atteniinii tn a ninre extensive type of farm- 
injj, animal hushandry. 

The censuses nf live stock shnw that cattle made S()me slight 
,L;:.in in the fnrt\ \ears hefnre the nuthre;;k of the war. In ISSl 



THE I'Mi 1.1) Kr.i.noM 



171 



there \Mrc 



').'X)7 KX) head of catil 



ii a 



ill ihisses in tin- United 



i\ini;i 



iiii, aliiiiu 



till >anie as it had in in i>'i leii wars prcvi 



i.nis. 



During tin- ui\l 
1 r.VUiXJO lH-a< 



thin- u.i- an i 
or ioiirti-in ami a halt pi-i v.i-nl. 



increase in nunihers tc 



jr twcniv 



\car^ till' lif^uri- reinaiiicd Mih^tantially the -anic, altci '.sluch there 
wa> the sh-lit iniTea-e .>{ 7il7.(»0* Hieail ni six per cent in the thir- 
teen >ears U'Ol to 1''14 Iheie ua- smtie increa-e m ihe atten- 
ti.in fjiven dairying, hut the prnporlii.n nt cdu > and heiter- ti> all 
cattle remained appn.xr ately the -aine. 'ihe increase in iniin- 
l,er of cow- and heiter> did imt keep pace uith the iuciea>e m 
p,.ptilition, which resulted in cii-tantly mcreaMiii; dependence 
on overseas trade for dairy products. The extent of this dei.eiid- 
encc may he measured hy the increa-^e in imp. Ms of Initier an.l 
• ileomargarme from 4.3 pounds per capita m the years 1S(.(^-1S,0 
to 13 ])oun(K in the five year penod 1*X)<>-1<M0. 

'1 here wa- a similar increase in the imports of egss. the rates 
hein" 14 per person in 1866-1870, but 49 in the later jienod. 

-Hie numher of swine in 1881 was 3,157.CX)0. In 1910 there 
were oiilv 3.561,000 ho.^s, althouj^h the four million mark had 
been pa-sed during; the interveninfr <''"f- 

The mimlier of sheep in 1881 totaled 27.804.0<X1, and though 
there had been at times a few millions more, in 1914 the num- 
ber was practicallv the same, 27,'I64.0(X). 

The per capita iluports of meat vere a little less than six pounds 
in 1861 -!S63. Thev were eight nmcs as much in 1906-1910. 
or forty-eight ])oiinds jier capita per year. 

There were those who viewed this coti-tantlv increasing depend^ 
ence of the Tnited Kingdom on (Mher lands for food with alarm, 
and thev -oun.led a note of warning. Their warning- were un- 
heeded because <if the .acknowledged supremacy of ilie liritish 
na\y. siii.porting worldwide trade. It was the consciou'^ policy 
of Great I'.ritain to trust to the freedom of the seas and to the 
open markets of the world as a sufficient and readily available 
source of foodstuffs. This contideiice seems not to have been 
misplaced, for under this policy l-.ngl.ind prospered Even alter 
the war began there was no -erious disturbance of the io^A sui^ily 



I 



MICROCOPY 


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ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 2 






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i; 



EIFECT"' 'IF TIIK WAR ITOX Sr.KICCI.TrKK 



Mid proliahlv tlicre wor.ll have heon w j in the event of any war 
wliich civili;!C(l people had th(niL;ht even remotely nos-ilile. It 
wa-^ the titanic proportions of the world war which none but 'he 
(iernians, who had planned it nad foie^een that were responsible 
for l''.n,nland's critical sitiiaiion with respect to iood in the spring 
of 1918, Not even the submarines, if used in accordance with 
the accepted rules -u' modern warfare, would luue brought such a 
situation about as has been observed, for had the rights of ne>i- 
trals on the high seas been respected by the German Admiralty, 
there would have been food aplenty laid down on the sliores of 
Great Britain by the merchant ships of neutral nations. 

England's policy of dependence on trade for more than half 
her food supply is in marked contrast to the policies of the con- 
tinental nations, particularly of Germany, during the period un- 
der discussion. Germany sought to challenge the supremacy of 
Great Britain on the high seas, but was not secure in her posi- 
tion either in imagination or in fact. She could buy food in 
the markets of the world as cheaply as could England «o long as 
she could buv at all: but the prospect of her being able to keep 
her ports open and her merchantmen at work in the event of war, 
particularly with Great Britain. wa= dim. Tn this Germany 
proved to be far sighted. TIence Germany began forty years 
ago to promote the home production of the necessary food-tutfs, 
and for twelve vears before the war made it a part of a positive 
nrrn-ressive policy. Whether she was to tight an offensive or a 
defensive war she made every effort to ensure a successful war, 
and' no part of lier elaborate preparations for such a war was 
more carefully planned or more systematically prosecuted than 
that of economic independence of the out-ide world i he wis- 
dom of this self-sufficing policy is remarkably demonstrated by 
the abilitv Germ.any has shown to feed her civilian population and 
supplv her armies in the face of comparative isolation from the 
rest of the world. .\s above noted the wisdom of the free trade 
policv of l-jigland would have been as easily demonstrable in 
anv ordinary war. 

The following table showing the area devoted to the main food 



Tilt; I NHK1) KI.N'DDUM 173 

crops per thousand of population indicates the relati\e pu>uions 
of the nations noted with respect to domestic supplies of food. 

•\CRES PER 1000 OF POPULATION UEVOTEU TO PRINCIPAL 

CROPS 

Country Wheat &R>c Oats & Barley Mai/e Potatoes 

United Kingdom 4J liV ^ ^^ 

F. ance '^^ ^ 26 97 

Afstria-llnnsary 280 257 » }<» 

Germany 308 225 .. 1^6 

While in England the relative importance of agriculture was 
decreasing, Germany was developin- more farms each year, 
breaking up forest areas, reclaiming mar_-~h and sand dunes, fitting 
them into cultivated fields and placing farmers upon .hem. Un- 
der such circumstances the Central Powers have been able to sub- 
sist, though not without privation, while England is still depend- 
ent on her trade, in which only the greatest efforts of all the 
Allies have l>een able to save her from disaster. 

Tables Will and XIX give additional statistics of crop area 
and crop production. 



CHAPTER II 

Domestic Production and Trade in Agricultural Products 
after the Outbreak of the War 

The ri<c- in ]nici- if (ihhI iirodiKts inciilcnt ti> a >t:it(j nl war 
gave an iinnK-diatf and elTix-tivc sliniulus tn ai;ricnltuial ])roduc- 
ti(in. lioidt's tlic natural slimulus of txpcctcd hij;li ]iriilits. the 
dependence of the United Ki!i,t;di)m upon iinijortations ol loud 
became a matter of concern i^rowint,' into alarm \\:th the increas- 
inj,' inroads of the suhmarines into -hippin.i:. To such an extent 
was this true that the ^'oxernnient felt th.it it was necessary to 
add to the economic appeal of war prices an ajipeal t<i the patriot- 
ism of the people hacked hy all its legislative and administrative 
powers. 

Do.Mi:sTic Pkodittion 

On account of the imi)ortant place in the diet of the peojjle held 
hv bread, concern .is to the wheat --iipply wa> upjiei nio-t in the 
minds of ;dl. With wheat, oats, liarley .and i)otatoes are very 
closelv a--ociated, and to some extent interchangeable, as recent 
deve]opmeni> ha\e inihcatcil. 

The sharp increa^-e in tlie jirice of wlieat in the fall of 1''14 .-md 
the following winter indnced the sowing of a nuich larger acreage 
than usual. !n fact, it i> necessary to go liack to IS^il to tmd an 
acreage greater th.an that of 1^)15 The increase wa- mainly at 
the expen-e of the barley .area, the price of barley not ha\ing kept 
]);ice with wheat prices, I'or a live year period just before the 
war the average acreage of wheat was 1 .8'l('),(lO< ». . In 1915 it rose 
to _'„'^.i5,000 ;icre>. an increa-e of 2o per cent. The unprece- 
dented world crop of I'M,^ .allayeil the ajiprehensions as to a 

K4 



IllK LMTKU KI.Xi.UiJ.M 



i; 



shortage anil held the price dnwn ai ihe -aiiie time, iii cun>e- 
queiu-e the next year ^lui\\> a i.anial shiltinK hack tn liarley, 
whieh was ^annn.i; relatively ui [.nee as compared with ulieat. 
The increase in the wheat acreage in 1''13 wa> jti^t ai.uut a coun- 
ter balance to the decrease in barley acreaf^e. The increase m 
production <.t wheat was appro.vMiiately 12.000,000 bu.shels over 
1M14. In 1917 wheat >howed a flight recovery over the decrease 
of l')16, but even s.i was but 11 per cent al)ove the live year 
average. Harlcy was below the five year average, but to the ex- 
tent ot but 50,000 acres. 

Oats 

In the meantime the acreage of oats had been materially stimu- 
lated. The need oi uats as a feed lor horses in the war, the guar- 
anteed price for them, and the patriotic appeal that tliey be grown 
in abundance was effective. The normal before the war was 
4,033,000 acres. In 1917 an increase of 730,000 acres or 18.1 
per cent, was reported. Taking the three leading grain crops 
together the combined extent for the years 1910-1914 averaged 
7,783,000 acres. 1-or 1917 it aggregated 8,664,000 acres, or 1 1 .3 
per cent more This increase came mainly from the permanent 
grass acreage and especially from pasture. 

Potatoes 
.\side from the changes in the grain acreages the main develop- 
ment is in ptJtato production. The importance of tins crop was 
e.irlv recognized and a price guaranteed. The result was an 
increase of 178.000 acres over the five year [)rewar average. 

O titer Crops 

Rather curiouslv. nearly all minor crops such as beans, peas, 
and the cabbages .how decreased acreages. The shortage of the 
labor supply is the logical expl.anati.m. ( See Tables XVHI an<l 

XIX. 1 

The increase in tilled crops in 1^17 over 1916 amounted to 

,^S0 0<X1 acres. 



176 



KFKECTS Ul' TlIK WAR ll'iiN AliKK U l.TrUK 



'!1k- live stock returns j-how snir.o lluctuatiims Imth as respects 
nunilier,-, iiiaimaiiied and numbers passing through the markets, 
indicating an activity m animal husbandry comparing rather fav- 
orably with prewar years.' This may have been due to treedoin 
troni invasKjn which took large number.-, of Belgian and I'rench 
cattle, and to the lack of a compelling fear concerning food sup- 
plies on the part of l-lngli^hnien durmg the early part of the war. 
In Germanv .accordmg to Dr. .\. Iv Taylor curtailment of impnr- 
tation.^ of cat'le feeds and shortage of cereals made serious in- 
roads on numbers of live stock which in the winter of 1917 had 
been reiilaced. but with young stock and rather emaciated stock. - 
The nunilier of horses had been declining slowly but steadily 
before the war. and went still lower in 1015, but during the next 
two vears not only recovered, but passed the normal by nearly 
eiglit per cent. The indications, however, in U'17. pointed to an 
almost certain decline soon to follow, since the numbers of colts 
under one vear of age and the number of bro(jd mares have de- 
creased to a marked degree. 

The numbers of cattle, both cows and other cattle, have done a 
little better than hold their own for the war period, although from 
l')16 t.. 1917 there are some reductions. The popular way of 
r.iising and caring for cattle in the United Kingdom is by graz- 
ing. The climate allows a long grazing seastni. The system 
makes a small demand on labor. The farmers are accustomed to 
the method. It has been in vain that agricultural writers iiave 
pointed out the economy of feeding live stock from aral)le instead 
of from grass land. Xcw, provide! the labor can be obtained 
such a change, which has evidently begun, will prove a boom to 
the whole Allied cause. While the home grown meat is by no 
mean- adequate, it is at least gratifying that the milk supi 'y has 
a> vet not greatly declined. 

.\s to >heei). the showing is not so favorable as for horses and 



1 See Tallies XX and XXI. ,..,„. o- 

-'/'r'rfiicf.' i"(/ Cnnsmatinn nf I-ood Suffnes. tart 4. p. 4_.-,. 

before Senate Comniittee on .A^riciilture and Forestry, bJlli Lon^;. 



Hcarin;^ 



Tlir. I'NITKI) KIMUinM 



177 



cattle, though the decrease is not very s^reat. Fur the five years 
preceiHiif; the war, the nuiiilier nt sheej) avciaf,a'(J Jy._'41,(>00. In 
1917 the Hunihcr reported was 27.77\.O^M). a decrea-e of live per 

cent. 

The proniiuncetl decrease in the wliole li--t of hve stuck occurs 
in the numbers of swine, liefore the war there hail been for a 
live vear period an average of 3,812,000. The falhng off wa> 
not great in 1915 or 1916, but the thu-d year found the nunil)er 
down to 2,999,(X)0, a decrease of 23 6 per cent. 

The occasion for the more rapid decrease in swine than in 
other live stock is fairly easy of explanation. Trobably if circum- 
stances should force any people to reduce the amount of live stock 
to the verv minimum the pig would be one of the last to go. On 
the other hand, when kept in large numbers, l!iat is to say. beyond 
the numbers which can be supported as scavengers, the pig eats 
cereals and roots which are readily available for human food. 
and which, therefore, tend to become high in price. Other live 
stock eats coarser, bulkier foods, such as grass, hay and straw. 



Tkade in- A(;kicultur.\l Pkodlcts 
Iin/^orts 

As has already been pointed out the United Kingdom is de- 
pendent upon imports for half of her food supply. Any inter- 
ference with trade then would materially affect the importation 
of food into these islands. 

During the fir^t mcnths of the war there was a marked falling 
ofY in the importation of almost every kind of foodstuff. It is 
estimated that this del ciency amounted to 8 per cent in the tlrst 
nine months of the w;.r.' 'This might easily have been antici- 
pated. During the ope.iing months, 'rade with the enemy was 
shut off entirely and gre.itly restricted with some of the Allies. 
Some little time was consumed in finding other sources of supply 
for .some of the food impot'^. Particularly is this so of sugar, 
which had formerly come froi.a Germany and Austria, and wheat, 

^Journal of the T^oyal Statisl'ual Sv-'aty. July. W15. p 501. 



178 



i:i'i-i:cT~ oi- Tin: \\ ai< ii'dN ACKirii.TiKF 



a part oi which had cuinc I'roin Ru.-?ia. When thcjc other 
>()urLf^ wiTc ic'Uiul, importation was speeclcd up ami brought to 
noniial aj;am 

'llif iiiuriiicnce with trade by sea \va> less than had been 
an'.Kip.iti'd. A K^eat deal of uiuertaiiii) e\i>ied at the outbreak 
ol the war, but this soon ya\e \say wlii-n it \sa^ seen that the 
submarine was, lor this time at lea>t. unable ^erlou^l\ to re-inct 
normal trade Trade with neutrals was not interfered with ap- 
preeiabl> — in tact it ■va> materially increased, e\en at the be- 
ginning, particularly in foodstuffs. 

U'lu-iit. The imports of wheat diminished slightly in 1914 a^ 
compared witli either 191_' or 1913 — the figure for 1913 being 
lJ_'.U(tO,LK)0 hundredweight while that for 1914 wa- ll,S,a\),iX)0 
liunil'-edw eight This was quite large'y due to the elimination 
of the Russian supjily from the world market. Mo^t nf this de- 
liciency was inatle up by iiicre.i-ed importation* from North 
America. The importations of wheat during 1915-1916 were 
coiisitlerably reduced. In 1915 wheat wa>- a bumper crop all o\er 
the world and home production was ccirre-pondingly g' od from 
an increased acreage, !aigel\- conipen'-ating the decrca'-e in im- 
ports In the spring of 1917 rngli-h buyers were such iu^isleiU 
bidders lor .\nierican w! :it Miat prices rose to an unlieard of 
figure. 'i"hi> was due to .-hortage of shipping which prevented 
drawing on the adei|uate supplier in India and .\ii-tralia, and 
re.'^ultcd m a pooling of efforts of the Allied r'nnernments witli 
respect to wheat. The -hortage caused by lack of ship])ing be- 
came \ery serious in 1'U7-1''1S. 

Biirh-y. I'jarley imports likewise dropped otT somewhat in 
1914 ( see table on im])orts of the I'liitcil Kingdom below). The 
elimination o! Russia from the market was also responsible for 
tin--, Ru-sia is such a large factor m the barley market that the 
shutting otf (if this supjily ha- caused the price on the English 
market to come up quite noticeably relati\e to wheat. The other 
grains all show a slight diminution in 1914. largely due to the 
stopping of trade with the enemv and with some of lier allies. 
Rarlev in boih prciduction and inqn Tt- w a- reduced m I'M ? 19] 6 



THE rNi''i;U KINi.l"i.\I 



179 



Le>> liarlcv ha.- l><.'ni u-f>l in l-'.ii^laiul .hiring tlie war, the rc<luc- 
tion 1:1 ihJ aiiinmu oi Iniuur inaiuiiaclurcil he iij; in part T^-\n,n- 
siblc itir ihf ik-vTi-a-!.- 

Otils. Ihf natumal nicreabC 11. prnducticn ui ..at- (inrni^; the 
war \tar,- ua:< a practical oft'jcl tu the rcancii-n m iiiipoit.- ot 

oat.- 

Rur. Importation-- of rice advanced sharpl> in 1''15 tn luarly 
douMe the prewar average: m 1914 importatniii, were ahMiii the 
same a> before the war and in l"li) about half as larj^e ai^am 

Sui/ar. Tlie United Kingdom is not a producer of suyar and 
is obliged to import all of the sup;r.r to -upjily the hi.uhe-t per 
capita consumption of any country. Previous to the war tin ire 
than half this large amcnnt came from Cicrniany and .\u>tria- 
Hungarv which source of supply was oi course entirelv cut otf 
at the hesinning of the war. In spite of this fact. F.n^land was 
ah'c to imnort somewhat more in 1914 than the five year pre- 
war average. Due to exigencies of shipping and exchange, the 
importations of sugar suffered a decline of more than 20 per cent 
in 1916, and -^ugar cards were issued in October of that year 

Aminal Products. The importation of meat products was but 
slightlv affected by the outbreak of ho'^tilities. The imports of 
both beef and mutton were normal while pig meat showed an in- 
crease from 6.4.-'0.000 hundredweight to 7.030,000 hundred- 
weight, or 8 per cent. Piuttcr importation fell slightly, while 
cheese, margarine and eggs were but little affected. Condensed 
milk fell off quite sharply in r>17. 

The largest inci eases noted in animal products are in pork, 
wool, margarine and condensed milk — all of the=e products 
adapted to the U!^e of armies. The importation of pork products 
shows a rapid increase from the beginning, until in 1916. it was 
over 3,000.000 hundredweight greater than in I'M,^. or about 50 
per cent increa-e Wool recovered after a drop in 1914 and in 
1915 more than 800,000,000 pounds were imported. Thi- rep- 
resents a 60 per cent increase over the importation in 1"1.V 
Margarine ro>e from a million and a half hundredweight in l*'l.^ 
to two and three quarters million hnndredweight in 1916, an in- 



180 



EFIUCT.S or THE WAR LTCIN .\(;UU T L.TLKE 



crease of SO per cent. Condensed milk (iinswc'teiied ) slious 
the lar^'e>t iicrceiUage of increase oi all prodiicl^,, jinnijinj; Iroin 
alii'Ut 50.000 hundredweight before the war to 2r7.U(K.i lumdred- 
uei-ht in 191? and 668.0tX) in 1916, increases of 500 and 1.300 
per cent re^()ecti\ely. Hiiiler importation ha^ declined, Init this 
decline ha> heeii almost \\iioll\ made up l)y the increase in the 
importation of niar<,'arine. The war with the attendini,' hi.t;h 
prices ni.iy he directly re--pnn~ilile fnr this substitution of marga- 
rine for iiiitier. 'Die >upply of butter was no doubt available, 
init m.ir^arine beiii^ somewliat clieaper and le>> perishable was 
.-ub^tituied. 

The importation of beef proilucts mounted about 10 per cent 
in 1915 above the prewar level, but l">;t tin-- and about In per cent 
tnorc in 1916. Mutton has sliowii a decline due to the droppiiif; 
off ill the Argentine and Au-tralia. 

The imports of egps ha\e fallen precipitou--ly since the war 
bcfran. The cuttin<:; off of trade with Russia i> (luite larj^e'y 
responsible for this reduction as Russia formerly supplieil more 
than 5(t per cent of the imports. 

Cotton. Cotton imports were down followinn; the heavy im- 
portation of the preccdini^ ye;ir or so, dropping from 28,n0i.'.000 
hundredweight in I'^IJ and 2J,0(X'),000 hundredweight in 191,5 
to 19.000,000 hundredweight in 1914, 

From the fore,i;oiiig we see that the gr.iin aul cotton imports 
during 1914 were practically the only ones that were materially 
affected. 

Cotton importation came back to normal again after the first 
shock of the war 

This analysis of the ini[)orts .-hows that the import- thus far 
have not been seriousI\- interfered with in the most important 
products and grain-. Exceptions to this 'Statement are sugar, 
barlev, mutton and ei;;^'-. W lie.it and o.at- lia\e been al-o affected 
somewhat, but the increased home supply has not rendered the 
position dangerous. The importation of pork has increased 
enou,L:h to take care of the decline in beef and mutton. Thus 
whi'e the subiiiarme has hampered trade, iirportant supplies from 



TIIH l.NlTll) KI.\<;UOM 



181 



Ku->ia liavc been ;,luit nt'f, and trade Iia> ceased with ciu'iny (.miiii- 
tric.-. the impiirtant fodd sujiphes --huw httle (hmimitiuii in anmunt 
up to the end of 1916. 

For details (if importations see Tables XXIU, X.\l\', XX\ , 
XXVI, XXVU and XXVUI. 

lixf'drts 

The exports of agricultural products of the United Kinfjdom 
are of little iniporta. ce except pus->ilily in wonl. 'Ihe imports ot 
won], ho\\e\er, are given as net imports. 

During the war exports of foodstuffs in general show a de- 
crease, 'ihe most noticeable are those in wool, horso and the 
grains. 

Efforts and Pi..\ns of the riov?:RN'MEXT to Tntre.xsf. Pro- 
duction IN THE L'nitki) KiNcaioM, Particularly ok 

THE I')REAI) ('.RAINS 

In the fall of 1914 ccmsiderable agitation was noticeable in 
the press and on the part of ])ublic speakers about restoring to 
cultivation some of the land that had been laid down to gra-^s dur- 
ing the pre\ious thirty or forty years. The farmers were urged 
to do this as a national duty, to make I'.ngland more secure in its 
position with respect to the food supply. 

This was before the submarines becanic a serious menace to 
the islands by cutting off the outside sources of supply. Some 
enthusiasts proposed the immediate and indiscriminate plowing 
up of pasture land. Others who were more conversant with 
English farming proposed plowing up those pastures whose soil 
permitted it and which had recently lieen laid down to grass. 

The question was fought out as to the advisability of convert- 
ing this pasture land into aralile from a national point of view. 
It was argued that to plow this land up meant that the ^lock- 
carrving capacitv of the land would be curtailed and thus En'jland 
would lose part of her 'supply of meat and dairy products which 
were also verv important. Then, too, it was priinted out that 
wheat could only l)e grown every three years and it would require 



ISJ 



I-I-FITTS OF THi: W Ai; ri'ON MilJiCl'LTUKE 



that a j^Tcat dial <il land would iiave to be limkcn tip in order 
tliat Ijijilaiid could l>c hroiij^ht lo a self-sut'tkiiiy basis so far as 
her bread grains were column d. 

Those who faxortd i'-- t)olicy of incrcasiiip the aralile land, 
however, arj^iied that more ...ock could be kept oti an acre of 
arable Kind than upon an acre of pasture, .-vt aii\- rate, very little 
was done in the way i<i an orj^anized campaign backcl li\ the 
government in the tir-t t'rw months of the war. 

Xot all the ad\Ke ^]wu farmers during this period \\a> bad. 
There were some nun who had a sufficiently broad grasp of the 
situation to see that l-'.ngland was dependent upon foreign coun- 
ti:e> for either things than wheat. They saw that o\er 40 per 
cent ot hei' meat --niiply came from willmut the I'nited Kini^doni. 
ami that a considerable proportion of her dairv products likewise 
caiuc to lier from overseas. It was important that tlie -npi^Iy of 
these neies^ities shuuld be maintained as well a^ the supply of 
bread. To i<\erturn the I'".ngli--h system of farming in one vear 
in order to tiv to produce a larger share of her wheat re(|uire- 
ments was a rather dam^erous experiment. II. 'I'rustam F.ve.' 
in an ad<lress before the London I'.armers' ("hib, probablv Iiad 
this thought in mind when he s.aid : 

If .-i I)rnacl rule could cxprt'.ss the duties (if a f.irmi'r just now. ,ts a citi/en 
wishing to help the country, if could be expressed by saying. " Keep your 
land clean: keep it drau ed; till and manure it really well and sow what suits 
the farm and your style of f.Trming — (rive the sowinc of wheat tlie turn of 
the scale Hy so doine the f.iniicr will be addine to tlie wealth of the country 
and will pr^Av as mucli per acre a-- the nature of the land permits." 



KJT I 

Crop production for ^'14 w.'is nf course laid out bi'fore tliere 
was any idea of .a war. i'nt the war began early enough in the 
season to allow f>lans for the sfiwjng of winter wheat for I'M.^ 
consumption to take shape. There were no or^-ani/ed efforts to 
increase production during the fir^t vear. I'.itriotic ap[)eaK in 
general and the spur of j)ro>pecti\e hi^h prices resulted in a 

^ Before London Farmer^' ("Inli. .''.'H»-?ia/ of thr Fiirm--rj:' Chih. \'>v onibcr, 
K(14. i .^ce }'aniu'r in War 7'iiiu\> 



THE UNHID KI.M.liK.M 



1X3 



twoiitv per ccni increase in the acreage sowed to winter wheat, 
even wnhmu an or^'aiiized cani[iaij;ii This was I'le larjjest 
acreage ]>lanlicl to ulivat -iiiii' \S')\. Thi^, Ii'^ucmt. wa- the 
rcsiih (if shiitinj; trdiii the ijnxhKinin nf other cni|i., -ucii a> liar- 
U'V, hcaii-, iiea-i, and routs, to wheat, h'allow land and cIomt 
sliowcd 1 di'i rea^e, too. 'I hi' actn.d nmnlier of am;-- ot arahle 
land was not only not increased. Init the I'nited Km^'dotn >liowed 
a iK'crease of 63.n(K) acres, and the niiinher of acres in permanent 
p,i>tnrf -howcd hnt a slifjht diniiiuition, a ntere _'0,(K)U .acres in 
the I'nited Kiiiiidoin. 'riiiis, it will he seen that there wa- little, 
if any, actual increase in acreai,'e of hreail .ijniiiis, merely a shift- 
ing from harlcy and (..iltnaled cropi to wheat. 



Economic motives >oiiie\vh:\t inllnenced li\' ]iatriotic aiii)e.ds 
seem to have 1 een relied on in tlie -^iirin^' of I'M,^, 1 he people 
came to realize that the war was likely to lie of loii^' duration 
and settled down to a ste.adv ])nll. 

l.Jurin.u' the I'.all of l'»l.s. an active campaiu'ii wa- carried on 
by Lord Selhoriie. then Minister of .Agricnlture, for j^reater home 
food production. This niav he Icjoked upon as the he'^inniiiL: 
of a new era in the relationship of ai^riculture to the (jo\eriiment- 
Heretofore, Knslaiid had pursued a ltiissr--f<iirc policy in ret:;;trd 
to agriculture, watchinj: complacently the diniinution of her ar- 
able land, the decline of her rural population with the mevitable 
consequences. In the time of need with the country sorely 
pressed as the residt of the interference with her trade, the ^Gov- 
ernment appealed to its farmers to come to its assistance atid 
produce larger and larger crops and thus rdleviate a dangerous 
situation which had arisen relative to the food supply. This was 
the first time that the Minister of Agriculture had undertaken 
such a program.' He appointed County Agricultural War Com- 
mittees for the purpose of stimulating greater production. The 
government was behind this scheme, hut declined to go further 
and guarantee a minimum price for wheat such as Lord Milner's 

> I-oiidnn ri»i,-.r, Octohcr 5. 1015. 



184 



KFKI'CTS dl" llli: NVAK rl'iiN Al.KR L'LTLKK 



cominittw on iiuTca-iiif; the pniiluctinn of focid had recoiu- 
iiu-ndcd. 'Ihc rrasoiis '^wnu l(ir thi- rcl'u^al wcri.' lliat the suh- 
luariiK- dan<,aT >eL'nied to have been ina>tered and tiiat tlie acreai;e 
ot wheat in the fall of 1''14 had increa>ed -'U per cent without 
artificial aid.' 

At any rate a lieL;ii ninf; wa> made, and laiidand rever-ed lier 
policv toward a,i;nculture. I'nmi then on a ,^reat deal of atten- 
tion has heen i,;i\en to the stimulation of production and to agri- 
cultural (|ue.-tioii> in -eneral looking toward their ^ohition m or- 
der that production could he ^pjeded up. 

The results of this canip;',iL,Mi are not ea^ly di-cermhle. 1 he 
enormous worldwide crop of wheat in 1"!.^ held the price of 
wheat down imtil the close of tlie seedini,' sea^^on. while the 
price of harley in the fall months was ^uflicient to cau>e a rclurn 
tn that crop. The prodnrtiou f oats which had jumped u]) m 
Vn5 as a result of the effort on the part of the fanners to -upjilv 
oats for the i^overnnient's army requirements in addition to the 
stimuhis ,,f higher relative prices than cither wheat or harley, 
remained the s.-nne as I'M?. In fact, the oat acreage th-oughout 
the United Kingdom did increase remarkahly each year over the 

preceding. 

10 16 

Hv I'Mfi the shortage of lafor was l.eginning to he felt ami 
lliere wa^ coiisideral)le danger of production heiiig curtailed as 
a result of it. It was estimated that 3(K\(10n tuen liad heen with- 
drawn from agriciiltur;ii production up to the snnimer of l'>lf).- 
It was during this season that there was cnnsideraMe discussion 
coiiceniiiig the use of tractors to alleviate the lal.or shortage. 
\ol much u-e ^^ as made of tlum this year so far as can he 
learned from the press. 

Some local '.rials of school hovs had heen made in !'">!. ^ as a 
means of augmenting the lahov snjiplv. ami while th.ese seem to 
have heen fairly satisfactorv where tried in tha.t year, farmers 

'^Mrf'^Mr'Tclan.!!. nn .\n«!.st 34. 1'I16, AUr, Donartmept C.imniittec on 
T and Scttirmont of Sol.lirr. and Sa.l-rs c^timatol ,'20,00n l,a.l loft the land 
from .•\ii!;u';t, 1914, to June, 1916. 



Tin: rNir.;i) kini'.dom 



185 



arc reported ns slimviiij,' very little intere>t in scIkhi] Ijoy lal'^r in 
l'>16 in -pite (if the >h(irta^'e uf lahdr. 

The i'xiard nf .\;4ricultnre made a canipai.un amnnj,' tlie larniers 
throii;,di circulars and direct ai)iieals to maintain production of 
food and in this \va> fairly succe--sful.' The acreage of arahle 
land showed an increase of over 150,(KtO acres in 1916, more than 
niakiuL; up the set back in I'll 5 thou^tjh it was still less than the 
live year a\eraj;e before the war. But it will be noticed that the 
acrcaRt of root crops, including potatoes, peas and beans, de- 
cHned e-'ch vear as a result of sowing mcire grain. 

The lloar.l of .\griculture further helped the farmers by secur- 
ing from tlie War ( It'tice l.\()()0 men to hel]) with the spiing work 
on farms and 30,01)0 men to help at harvest time.- 

1917 

Since i1k l;eginning of the war it had been suggested that the 
government sh.nild guarantee prices to the farmers, particularly 
for wheat, potatoes and oats. It was thouglit that this would 
expedite the process of converting pasture land int<5 arable. Dur- 
ing 1916 these sngge-iions began to bear fruit and there was a 
great deal of discussion as to the method to be used. 

(Mher methods suggested to bring about greater cultivation of 
England's land were a tariff and a bonus for acres brought under 
the plow. With the advent of the Lloyd George Ministry, the 
appointment of Mr I'rolhero as pre-ident of the P.oard of .\gri- 
culturc. .and the estabb^hnient of the Ministry of Food, some defi- 
nite guarantees were made to the farmer- relative to the 1917 

production. 

l-'irst. a guaranteed price was jilaced upon oat production in 
the autumn~i)f I'M 6. The Hoard of Agriculture ..ffercd to con- 
tract for the purchase of oats grown on land now in permanent 
pasture at 41s. 3d. per quarter. Thi. was approximately the 
market price for (vats at tliat time, but was more than twice the 
price of oats in the prewar dayv In additi.m to this price guar- 

1 Mr .-Nrl.-.tKl in tlic House nf Omimnns, Aucnst J.l lOlJi. 
= Statement hy \Var Office in I.on.'.on Tiuus. March !, 1')!/. 



186 



i:i i-KCTs or Tin: w ak vivos agiucl'lti'i 



antce the farmer was assured the assistance of the . Coii- 

ivuUer in olitainiiifr agricultural implements and supplies. An- 
other condition of the contract provides that the farmer \va^ to 
appiv artiticial fertilizer to the tleid at a rate not le^s than i5s. 
\\(jrth per acre (sulphate of ammonia and superphosphate). 

This further exemplifies the government's change of policy 
ti>uard auricnltiirc. This contract represents the government's 
effort to nurease lioth the acreage and yield per acre of oats. 

That this guarantee had the effect of stimulating the produc- 
tion of oat> in 1917 can not he doul)te<l. In Ireland alone the 
acreage iumpeil up 400,0U0 acres or 37 per cent over the 1916 
acreage which was already coniiderahly above the five year aver- 
age before the war. The increase in tiie United Kingdom 
anioimtcd to Aoi^.OcH) acres or 14 per cent. 

.\ minimum i)rice for wheat was discussed at great length by 
cnmniittec> and by the pros. The Reconstruction Coiumittee 
appointed in .\ugust, 1"16, "to con-ider and report upon the 
methods of effecting an increase in the home-grown food supjihes, 
having regard to the need of such increase in the interest of na- 
tional security." reported. January 30, 1917, among other things. 
in favor of a guaranteed price of 42s. per ([uarter (480 lbs.) 
( $1.28 per bushel) for wheat and 23s. per (|uartcr (312 lbs. ) ( 70 
cents per bushel) for oats. These prices were very tuuch below 
the prices at which these grains were selling at the time of this 
reijort. Oats were double this and wheat SO per cent higher. 
{Oats 47s. and wheat 75s. per quarter.) They also recom- 
mended a protective tariff on farm products, if such a taritt was 
laid upon any other product of the L'nited Kingdom. 

Xo action was taken on price guarantees for wheat or oats 
at this time for the V^\7 crop, though later when the Corn Pro- 
duction Bill was enacted into law, niiuimuui jirices for both of 
these grains were established. The l-'ood Controller established 
a fixed price of 6O5. for wheat and 38s. 6d. for oats during janu- 
,iry. l'M7, but these were later abandoned and new prices estab- 
lished in .August by the new Food Controller. 

Tlic history of potato prices in England this vcar form an in- 



TllK UNITED KINGDOM 



187 



teresting side light on the dilViciilties attendant upon price regu- 
lation. These will he discussed in conneclion with food con- 
trol. It is .sufficient to say that a minimum price for potatoes 
of £6 per ton was hxed in January with the result that the potato 
acreage increased by over 70.000 acres or 18 per cent over 1916 
and bv 14 per cent o%er the 1910-1914 average. 

The active work done by the Board of Agriculture during 1917 
in stimulating home production called forth praise and to Mr. 
Prothei-o, 'he president, is given credit for putting force behind 
this campaign and getting it out to the farmers. 

The crops around wliich the campaign centered were wheat, 
oats and potatoes. Meat and milk production were also 
emphasized. 

When the campaign for greater production was first fi)rmu- 
lated, it was evident that a number of problems would have to be 
solved before much could be done in the way of enlarged acreage. 
The first question which presented itself was the labor supply. 
This had Ix-come more acute than in 1916. and strong methods 
were needed in order to secure labor enough for farm work. 
The first step taken was to get labor for spring wov!.. This was 
accomplished by the use of prisoners, interned enemy aliens, sol- 
diers, women and boys. Lord Milner stated in the House of 
Lords, lune 11, " that 70,000 to 80.000 men had iieen made avail- 
able for agricultural work. These consisted of prisoners of war, 
interned enemy aliens, and F.nglish soldiers. Over 120,000 
women were ;it work on the farms with 20,000 to 30,000 in 

sight." 

.\s a further means of remedying the existing labor situation 
the Board of Agriculture made plans for the more extensive use 
of farm machinery. Labor .saving machinery of all kinds was 
furnished by the government to farmers to assist them with their 
work. Tractors were bought by the government and rented to 
groups of farmers to perform farm work — particularly for 
plowing and cultivating. It is estimated that over 500 tractors 
were provided by the government in 1917.- 

' Country Gcnth'waii, February 2. 1918. 



ISS 



i:i 1 i.LT.> 1)1- iiii-; w Ai; ri'nN' acimi. ri.i l'ue 



Ti) prevent :in\ I'lirtliLT dcplcti' in, llu' military authorities wore 
ukIirlM t'l i)i-(iviile I'lr the \irtiial exeniptmn <a ^killed aj;riciil- 
tural lal-'orers. It was provided that it a voucher is issued hy 
tile Countv .\j;rieiiltnral Conimittee in re-pect ot a man tltat he 
IS emplo\ed whole lime on a larin at I'ann work, that he was 
cn.iL;a;;ed in siieh work on June 1, 1917. and is employed on work 
ot national imiiortance. that he is not to be called up tor medical 
cx.aiinnation or reexamination without the consent ot the Lount_\' 
Comniittee.' 

I'.nt the arniv was not .alone the occ.iMon of withdrawing men 
from the land. Munition and other maiiutactunni; i)l.ini^ liad 
been p.iyin,i: ijreatly increased wa};es dunu^i,' tlie war, and, as a 
con>e(|iience, l.irue niimlier> of men had gone to inainifacturini,' 
centers, who formerly were farm liliorers. 1'o tempt the-e men 
to return to the laml. the ^oxenuuent m.ade ])rovi>iou in the Lorn 
Production liill for ;' ininimuin wa,i;e for a^nriculiural laborers of 
not less than 2.^s. per week. This was to prevent the return to 
the prewar rate of wa.i^es. which was approximately JO per cent 
below this. 

In the-e various ways the I'.o.ard of .\L,'ricnltiire made pro- 
vi-ion for increased production in spUe of a diminution m the 
numbers of >killeil ai^ncultur.al laborers 

77;,- i':>r)i I'r.'iliininit Hill. The Corn I'roduction I'.ill. which 
wa> pa--ed in the -ummcr of 1''17 as jiart of the '.^overumeut's 
plan for ,<;reater home food prodnction is one of the most im- 
portant pieces of lej^i^lalion dealins; with atrriculttire tliat has been 
attempted in mo<lern times. I'.v its cn.ictment baiL^land was com- 
mitted to the policv ot >ul>^idi/insj and re.unilatini; a.s;ricultu!Ml 
production duriUL;- the period of six years covered by tlie bill. 

The main plan of the bill di\ ide- itself into four jiarts. Part 1 
provides that if the avera<re price for wheat or oats per quarter 
is less than the minimum price as fixed by the act. the occupier of 
anv land upon which v, neat or oats h.i\e been s,'rown "h.-dl be 
entitled to be jKiid by the I'.oard of A,i:riculture and iM^heries 
four times for wheat and live times ;or oats tlie ditterence le- 



1 Loll. Ion Tunes. J :1> 2'?. I'MT. 



THE UNiri:i) KIXr.DOM I'S'J 

t.vctn tlic avcra,L;c price and ihc niiniinmn price for each acre m) 

planted. 

The mniinuini prices for wheat and oats i,-'-tahh>hed nnder this 

part w ere : 

Wheat Oats 

Crop f..r V. :ir ' r-cr Quarter Per Quarter 

iyl7 60s. 3Ss. G.l. 

11)18 i S5s. 3_'s. 

1919 f 

1<|J1 ; ■ ^^^• 

V)22 I 

Part _' provides that aj,'ricuhiiral wa^cs shall he fixed hy an 
a.yrienltiiral hoard aiijiointed liy the I'.oard of Agricnllure after 
ecMisultation with the Minister of Lalxir. 

In tixiiif,' nuniinuni rates lor tune work, the wages hoard shall 
secure for ahle-hodied men wages, which in their opinioij are 
equivalent to wages for an ordinary day's work at the rate of at 
least 2r<-.. per week. 

Part 3 imposes a restriction on raising agricultiual rents. It 
provides that where notice is giver, hy the landlord to an existing 
tenant on a vearlv tenancy to quit his holding, and the tenant 
within thirtvdavs' gives notice to the landlord reciuiring the (lues- 
tion to he referred to the P.oard of Agriculture, the notice to quit 
shall not take effect until that f|uestion has heen determined t)y 
tlie hoard 1 1 the hoard considers that the notice has heen given 
with the nhject of ohtaining an increase of rent or other advan- 
tage which could not reasonahiy have heen ohtained if Part 1 had 
ncU heen in force, the hoard mav enter or,ler tha the notice shall 
not he valid or of any effect 

Part 4 gives power to enforce cultivation ..; land. 1 he P.oard 
of .\griculture is gixen the pouer to serve notice on any occupier 
tn cuhivate his holding according to th.e directions given hy the 
l,.)ard. I f anv land is unoccupied thev may enter on the land and 
cuhivate it or amh..n7e some one else to do it. Further pro- 
visions „, contract hetwcen landlord and tenant are not h.ndmg 
v^hkh interfere with the enforcement of the hoard's orders. 
The act applies to Scotland and al-o m Irel.ind, although other 



190 



EFFECTS OF THE \V.\K ITON AGIUCLLTL'KE 



officers exercise some of the powers. In Ireland the Lord Lieu- 
tenant takes tl e place of the Board of Agriculture. Lart 3 doe> 
not apply to Ireland. 

The act is to remain m force until the end of 1922. 

rians for k^i^ and After 

With the demand for more home grown food increasing ev.'ry 
dav. the Board of .Agriculture made a strong campaign to in- 
crease the acreage under crops in the United Kingdom ui 191X 

Beginning with the aralile acreage in 1872 as a model, the Food 
Production Department of the lioard of Agriculture aimed to 
equal that acreage this year To do this, something (j\er 2,000.- 
000 acres of land in grass and permanent ])a>ture were to he 
plowed up. During July and August of 1917, it is estimated that 
over 100,000 acres of pasture were coii\erted to arahle.' 

In order to carry out the details of the plan. 9,000 tractors 
were ordered — most of them from the I'luted States By the 
first of Septemher 1,000 had been received and were at work ' 
The remainder were to he delivered a^ fa^^t a-; read}', and all were 
to he in operation before the end of March, 1918. 

Although the tractor is tilling a large space in the program, 
thev arc not making the ini'-take of depending entirely upon it. 
Horses are beiiii,' provided bv the gmcrnmcnt to f,-irmcrs for 
plowing and other farm work,- Then, too. more labor mu^t lie 
supiilied to help with the seeding of this additional acrcac^e and 
tlii.s the Board of .\griculture is endeavoring to do. Thi.- I.ibor, 
as before noted, comes largely from soldier help loaned for a 
season, women, and interned aliens. 

The conversion of permanent pasture to arable is the first step 
in the go\ernment"s scheme to increase the wheat acreage by 
2.500,000 acres in 1918. This will mean more thari doubling 
their present acreage which was about 2,100,000 acres in 1''17. 
With a normal cro|) and a d nibled acreage the I'niteil Kingdom 
would be able to supply itself with half of ;t> total wheat re'|uire- 

1 London Times. .-\neii«t 3fi. 1917 
= Daily ^!o:l. .-Xngiist 2, 1917. 



THE UNITED KINGDOM 



I'll 



ments during the coming year. With shipping conditions fast 
becoming critical, tliis will relieve the present tonnage t)i a very 
con-sideiable burden, as well as relieve the people of the British 
Isles of the worry attenduig an uncertani supply of hrea(L-.tutfs. 
The changed policy of the government toward ai;nculture 
makes the outlook for the future' more assurmg now, than e\er 
before. The niinunum guarantee ."or wheat for the next two 
years of about $1.55 per bu>hel and about $1.00 per bushel f^r 
oats with the prospect that the price will be much higher gives 
to arable farming .a aspect of certainty such as has not i)een wit- 
nessed in England since the middle of the last century. The 
minimum guarantee for potatoes planted on newly plowed ground 
points to another big crop of pot"tocs in the islands. The prom- 
ise of the Food Controller to buy the entire commercial crop at 
practicallv the same prices received this year, adds stability to 
that industrv. The dairy fanner has the guarantee of the gov- 
ernment that the price of milk shall not be less in the winter of 
1918-19 than it was during the previous winter. Beef cattle 
prices are to remain at f)7s. ])er hundred ($16 25 nnighlyi, live 
weight for beef for the army until July 1, 1*>1S, when the 60s. 
(31450 roughly) price shall come into effect. .Ml oi tliese 
prices arc not as high as the market is, or would be. if left to tree 
competitive bargaining. Init they represent advances of sub-tan- 
tially 60 to 75 per cent or more over the prices ruling prior to 
the war period. These guarantees together with the prospect of 
much higher price- in wheat and oats, provide the Engli.sh farmer 
with safeguards again>t any evil consequences involved in shift- 
ing to a more intensive agrirulttire. as well as pro\iding pro- 
tection from some of the other numerous risks that he has been 
forced to carry in the past. 



CHAPTER i:i 



Activities of the Government in the Control of 
Consumption and Pri^e of Food 

l'i;i:i.l.Ml\ \KV ( nN.-ini.RATMNS 

Iroui I'lc lii.\L;iiiniiiL; nt the war the piu'c level in I'.nf^'land 
mounted >i(nvly until l''U). Then the ri>e became more aln-iipt. 
Tliis was the cause (if considerable hardship among the ma'-^fs oi 
the MiiL;hdi people am! was the occasion tor a L;reat <leal oi 
ailverse criticism of the .government. Durint; this year the de- 
mand became more and more insistent, particularly from labor 
orj^ani/ations. that some t^overnmental a.^ency should handle l-.ii.i;- 
land'> food problem. .Mr. Prothero, in the House of lontmotis, 
.May _'_', urj^'ed the £;"veniment " to i;rap]ile immediatelv with the 
problem of the food supply, and to i)ut the n.ition on rations at 
once in-tead of wailin.i,' until they were comiielled to do so. 
While these demands were bein^^ made a threat deal of discussion 
wa.s takin;^' place among economic 'vri'-iTs abotU the general i|ues- 
tiun of control of food prices. The luost of the discussion turned 
upon the a<l\isability of the government attempting to ti\ ma\i- 
iinim prices for foodstuffs in an attempt to keep down the in- 
creasing cost of living. The Indk of the opinion scenied to l:e in 
favor of extreme caution in tampering with the prices of com- 
modities. In a country like F.ngland, which is so depeiiilent upon 
foreign countries for her very subsistence, it was argued that the 
holding down of prices would have the double effect of diverting 
supplies to other countries and keeping down the production of 
those products so essential to the existence of the mass of the 
English people, i It was during the sunnner of I'HG that a de- 
partmental Committee on I'ood Suppiv and Prices was appointed 
to inquire into the causes of the rise in the prices of commodities. ) 






TiiK rNrri;ii ki.\i.I"'\i 



193 



III tlu' fall "t Vnh ulu'ii ii liaainc apparent that a wnvM fnn.l 
sliurta;;t: \\a- ininiiiiviit, tla- -Mvirnmcnt took the lirM -irp l(".k- 
iii<,r toward tlie coiiipk'l^' o.mml oi !.M.l~tiHI> inip..nol iiit^ tlu> 
rmlc.l Km-.lnm. 'Hil- Km,;; m ( .mnnl iiiM-tol tlu' T-ar.! -I 
Trade uilli\u';c ih.vmt. and diMTi^unn to inakr ..rdrr. - m tla- 
intcrol of the public and lor niamtainni.L; the -npply ol any 
article of conmurce." ' In fact, lhi> l.-ard vva^ -uen pnucr .A,.r 
the Veipplv. cuiiMimption, di-,trilnUion and price .f all l..,MKtntl>. 
Some orders were i>>ned bv the board, i-rnnanly uilh a Meu to 
the conservation of the exi>tiii- ^tock> of fo,.d and maintenance 
of the -iippl.v. 

'I'lir. MiM^im ol- I'oou 
Till. wa. inereiy a prekainnary ^tep to the c-tablidi;i:-nt ■■! a 
new i;,>veriimeiu department called the MimMrv nf l-o,.il. 1 he 
bill providing' f.ir tlii> new department receive.l royal a~-~ent 
IVceniber _'_'. l''U.. and on December 26, I...rd nevoni„,rt to,,k 
the oath of ..ffice as England's tir-t I'ood Cmitrolle'-.- 

The act e^tabti^iin- the new ministry j.laced upon the hood 
Controller the dutv of re-nlatui-:; "the supply an<I consumption 
of f.H.d in such a m.anner as he think, be^t for mamtaimn- a 

proper ^njiplv of fond, and to take >"^-li;yi'^ '^^ ''^' ^'""'^' '"""' 
for encoura^'iiii; the production ot lood. 

rnder the He fen m- of the l^'al-n regulation, the bo..d I ontrol- 
ler was i;ivcn wide power, for the m.urance of an adequate supply 
,,f f,,od for the I'nited Kingdom, '• 

The followintr powers were ^'ranted to him : 

I To make orders re-nlatin- or -ivin- .lirection. with respect 
to the production, manufacture, treatment, u.e, coiiMimptior., 
transport, storage, distribution and .upply. of any " article ■' i this 
e\pre-ion inchules animal- live or dead). 

_' To re(|uire anv persiiiis ov.nin.'r any article to place at the 
dis'posal of the Controller said article at such terms as the Con- 
troller may direct. 

1 T ,.n<lon 7'i»i.-.t. NnvcmLer IS. 1016. p. 9. 
•-• /•>■>,/ Vk/t'v M>vi.itil (First F.ditinn). 
3C,.»i)iu'ro' K.-r"rls. A^^'^l ^. l**!'- 



'M 



I.ITKCTS nr Tin: \\.\H ri'dN ACHUI-I TTKr: 



^. Id r(.'t|iiiri- iiiloiinatinn on ^tuck^ of tMinl ^iipplic^ "n liaiul. 
prices, and cust dl pinduclioii of any arlick-. 

4. To take po>sessi(iii nf any factory. \vork^lio|i or otlu-i- [ucm- 
i^e in which any article of looij is iirndurcd or nianulacturctl fur 
sale. 

5. 'I'd iiold ini|uinc> wiih rc-.])ci i to any article of fodd. '!'(> 
ilele^aie to dthcr de|iartnients the exerci>e of the [)o\ver> nf the 
I'ood Controller. 

W'sted with thoe ])duers the hood Contrdller had adequate 
authority fdr the coni])lete control of all foodstuffs ni tile I iiited 
Kingdom. 1 le wa^ aKn j;i\en powi-r to enconra^'e home produc- 
tion of f 1, hnt tiiis functidu was lar^'ely delegated to the lioard 

dt .\gncullure and h'ishcries. Thex were given further powers 
to enter on l.iiid and cultivate it if. in their opinidu, it was Hdt be- 
ing cuhivate<l in the he-t interests of the country,' 

.\s s(i(]n as the I'ood Contrdller was clcthed with sulTicient 
.•iiiilidrity. orders looking to\\ard the conser\ .ation and in.'iinte- 
n;mce of the food snpplv of the Cnited Kingdom were issued. 

'1 hey cmdd he clas-itied in the following niaiuier : 

1. Price liNinLT orders. 

2. I'rdhil'itiou of tlie (.'xport- of \arioiis articles. 

.' I'ermilting certain industries td run only under authdrity of 
the i'ddd Cdntrdllcr — hrewing intiTcst-, 

4. Restriction of the use of certain giains for human food. 

5. T.'iking pdsst^^inn of certain industrie- — tidur mills. 

6. Direi lions as to the manufacture of certain articles: 

I'll iiir m;niuf,acture 
Clidciilate manufacture 
C ;uid\' manufacture 

7. Re(|uisitions i\\ impdrts. 
<S. Rationing orders. 

K'atidning nf horses driler. 
While actual or imminent shortage of fddi! is duuhtless the 
main reason for food control, a siiiiplemeut;irv reason m,i\- he 

' .scii.'itc I )"iiinuiit N'l-'. 47. ii5th Compress, l^t .Sess. 



1 111". INll I l> M.\'.li"M 



195 



f.,iiiul 111 111'- practical iK'ci-,Mty ui an ciuitaMc di-trilmti.Mi ..f 
f,)(„l -ui.i.ls at limc> when there i-> a .Imrla-c. rn.liTl) iii« the 
jin.lileiii "I an ei|nital>le distrilnitHUi lie> the 'Hie-tion ni price. 
.\t lea>t the treiul nl prices bet. .re O'litml wa-, undertaken prnni- 
i^ed unnece-ary >ultering on the part (it the ina»e>, i''nnd o>n- 
trnl would hardly he jM.sMhle without cnncurreiit price cniitrdl. 
The f.iliowiii,:: resume nf jirice- nt agricultural [.roducts indi- 
cates the reax'ii- \"y the niM-lcnt demand fur price control. 

Pi(ici:s OF Ar.uii ii.rruAt. I'kodic i-, i.\ (iKi..\r liun \in- 

The ]irices .if mo^t :i-ncultural products — in tact all lood 
products — sharjily iiicreaseil after the outbreak of the war. 
Wheal jumped -'s Sd. per quarter ( S cents per bushel ) in .\iiKiist, 
barlev 3... 6d. per quarter ( K*' j cents per bushel ) and oats Js .=^d. 
per (Quarter ("'4 cents per bushel). Butter, cheese, and bacon 
all showed a sudden rise. These products, it will be seen, come 
largely from abroad and the price of home f,'rown product is intlu- 
enccd bv the prices, real or anticipated, of the importeil product. 
Beef, mutton, milk ami wool prices were slower in risini,' than 
the above mentioned articles. England is not so largely depend- 
ent on her imports for these products. One of the causes .,f tins 
abrupt rise in price of some products might be found in the fact 
th.-it the demand for the imported piroducts became insistent 
through fear of the foreign supply being t "tf.' 

e'otton was depressed in price due to the large .\nierican crop 
and the cessation of shipments to Austria, Germany and Belgium. 
Wool remained stationary for a while after the beginning of the 
war. until the first shock was passed, when it Ix-gan to climb. 

When the tirst period oi hysteria had passed, prices approached 
normal again and in September and October were appreciably 
lower than in August. With the approach of winter, however, 
' prices again began to climb and in December the price level was 
again up to the level of .\ugust and continued its upward course 
during the winter months. 

In coinparison with the close of I'^l.^. prices in December, l'M-1, 

1 Bull, tin of the United St.itcs P.urc.iu ri I..ibor Statistics, No. 170. 



J 



1'". 



1 I I I I l> 111 1 111. w \K l l-n , At.Kli till KK 



were Consider. tlily liit,'lK'r: >ii),'ar. H(> jrt iciit : wlieat (native), 
42 per ct-iit; licri, 37 jut (.i-iit : Wdol, 40 prr ci-iit ; liaion. S pi-r 
cent, ami butter, \i> \ni cent. CDttdii. (ni llu- ii'iuiary, na> 47 
per cnt lower.' 

Tile treiic! of pru-c^ (hiring; ilu l.ittci li.ili ^t' rM4 \\a-> ^liar|]lv 
u\i aiUT tlu- luiiliicak ol the w.ir w iili ,i l.i|i-i- in ^i-pU'iiihci' ainl 
Uctolier. lull willi ati njuvaril swinj,' (hiring the closing,' nmiitli-i 
of till' villi', w lien I he pi ires were 1 5 ])er cent hij^luT than tlii>-e of 
jnly. 

l'"rc)iii r'13 \<t I'M/", prices of agririilliiral prmlni'ls ii, lai;,'- 
latid nioiiiiteil >teaiiil\. 1 here were some periinU when >h^lit 
iji-pres-iniis toiik place iliie In lavuraliU' crops, hm tlu-se onlv 
had a tmipiirary effect as prices sui^n Ke^aii their iijiw.ird in.irch 
aj^ain. The rise in VHS w;is (piite Largely (h'e ti. the increa-e 
in freii,'ht rates liriiiij,du alimit li\- the I'.act th.at the i;riti--h 
( i"\ eminent 1 1 iniinandeered ,ind reipiisitK ineil hmt niie third nf 
the entire l!ritish ineriantile marine. - 1 he ri>e in price was es- 
])ecially noticeahle tnwani the end of the \e.ir wliei; the shorla^'e 
lit tiinii:iL;e became \ery pronminced. i lor increase in lreif,dit 
rales see T.ahle X\ . I The sli;.;ht depressinn during' the summer 
and e,irl\- I.all nt I'M.s was due to ahnndant irups in I'n^daiid as 
well as ;i luini]ier w nrld cri'ii nI wheat. 

In l''H) iirices uu rcased ra])idl\ iiiili! .\pril, the lui>ni>iitisf 
index nnnilier iwlmlesale prices) at tll.it dale shnwiiiL; .i Ci,^ per 
cent increase nxer jnl\, l''i4. l)iirinL; 'he snnniier prices re- 
mained at aliout that led. h;it leaped up a,L;.iin when the slmrt 
crops of "^raiii lliroiij^liunt the world presaj^ed a slii)rta.L;e of neces- 
sar}- lireadstnlTs helore another liar\est. This added to the in- 
iTicised acti\ity of the siihmariius and the he^innint; of Ciir- 
m.any's restricted zones armmd the Uritish Isles, ser\ed tu boost 
freight rates with the result that jiriccs of all products rose per- 
jieiidicul.irly. Wheat iuni]iid \2 cents per luishel \\hilc b.arlev ' 
and oats each rose 25 cents fier bushel in the ta'inth of December. 

Wholesale prices closed ''0 jier cent higher than the July, 1914. 
level. 



' I oniloti Times. Januarv 22, 1015. 

•lounuil iif Royal Statistical SocU-t\, .\I,in.-li. '916. 



llli: UMU.U Kl.NGUuM 



I'T 



In I'M/" prices still iiiuuntt-d Imt not so rapidly as at tlic clu.->e 
,,i l'M(, I'Ih' pi'ak was nailu-il in Jiiiic wlu-ii the licoiuiinist 
,n,l.s niinilRT slmucd tlif rise o\iT Jui>, l'M4, tn !«• 120 per mit. 
it (KHhiK'tl sli^litly in ll'*- siiiuimT aii.l early fall. Imt r.ise a little 
as wniter eaine on. 



HI) luiKiL 



PRICES OF GRAIN-GREAT BRITAIN 




Cluir! \'I. Tlic prr.iiMiin.u! incnas- in ^rain prices ca-rc between tlie iall ut 
1"1(J an.! tlic tune ul' prire regul.iti'm in l''l/. 

Cinisi's I'f the Risr in I'riccs 
Although siinie of the causes (if the rise in prices of agricul- 
tural pnidiicts ha\e lieen mentioned, they do not explain all ot the 

rise. 

In s^eneral prices were affected by the followini^ causes: 






198 1£FKF('T> OK TIIK W AlC VVOS MAilC Vl.TVRV. 

1. Dibiuibed conditions of trade and tran>ii"rtaUon. 

J. Shortage of the bupply of Itjodhlult!,. 

3. Increase in the demand for fcjod pro<hici,>. 

4. li!cr''a-e m ocean freight rate> and uiMirance. 

5. .Money supply and credit. 

6. Success or fadure of .\llied armies. 
/. Speculation ami hciarchng. 

Di^turl)ed transportation due to submarine acti\ities and the 
Use of iiiei'Lhant \e--sels lur war purposes, was responsih'c for a 
great deal of the increase m the price level The supplies trom 
binne countries were shut off entirely, and when, as in the ca-e 
of Russia, their product was a hi;:; factor in the market, it was 
responsible for :i considerable po''tion of the increase in price. 
This is particularly true with reganl to barlex', as Rnssia ordi- 
narily raises one-third of t!ie total barley oi the world and is the 
predominating factor in the internation'-l t vli in barlex'. Ihe 
cessation of trade with encmv countries boosted the price ot scMne 
commodities. This is particular'y true of suqar in England. o\er 
half of the suppiv of which h;id formerly come from Germany 
and .\ustria. fHiring the last year of the war other sources of 
the supjily have licen eliminated from the market, not because of 
hindrance- but becaii'^e they are so renioiely situated relative to 
Mncrland that ships can not he spared to make the lontr voyage 
necessarv to olitain these supplies. This is true of the wheat in 
.\nstrnlia and sng.ir mi Ja\a 

Disturbance of tr; le also has the effect of raiding the price of 
the great staples such a- the cereals and sugar because of their 
keeping qualities. Then, too, there is the psychological cause — 
the fear of famine. A- soon as the war began, hoarding of both 
sugar and flour dro\e tliese products up in p.icc out of all p-'opor- 
tion to the condition of tlu' market. 

The actual -bor.age of -i.,)ply of the principal food crops had 
an elevating effect upon the price of th.ese commodities. Partic- 
ularly is this true in 1916 and 1917. The world wheat crop for 



Till-; r\rn;u kimidum 1',''J 

1915-17 was over a Inllinn huilicl^ short of the previous year,' 
and the shorta,i;e of ^!lil^[)iIl•; further a-^'ravated the effective 
shortage. The piitaio crop in l-".ii.L;laii>l in I'Mh a> well a> the 
world at large wa.- below normal, eau>ini; uniirecedented prices to 
be paid for this conmiodit} 

The decreased l.alior siip]il\ undoulted'y had an adverse etiect 
uptin production ni all "f the warrini,' countries in 1*)16. I-jil;- 
land succeeded f:iirl\- well in resisting the general decline in pro- 
duction with a strenuous campaign for bigger cnjps. 

Part of the -hortage of supply was due to the overrunning of 
fertde and productive lands by armies. Particularly is this true 
of Xorthern I'r.ance and P.elgiuni where large areas of land on 
which wheat, oat> and siig.ir beds were raised either fell into 
the hands of the enemy or were overrun. 

The w;ir and the mobilization of vast armies of men brought 
abiait an iiicrea>e in the demand for food products. '1 he gov- 
ernment became a factor in the market and by buying in large 
quantities increased the pressure u, m the accumulated stocks, 
^'oreoxer, more food is coiT-umed by the soldier than by the 
civilian in his ordinary routine work. Plven the civilian during 
war time consumed more Ijecause of the longer hours and speeded 
up production. 

Ocean freight rates and war risk insurance were responsible for 
a large portion of the co-t of food produced in the United King- 
dom. The following t.ible shows the increa-e in freight rates 
per bushel of wlu'at during the war.- 

T AliM- W 
Ol-e.an Frh.jit R,\TES I'tK Bl-iu.i UK \Vhk.\t. :\k\v York to LivERmiL 

Muntlily Avera^L- 
1013 IMU 1''!.' I'lU, 1917 

Sarv 0.(8 .2,52 .450 1.045 

M-r,"; 0.-,J .2V:, .4')J 1.040 

Anril ' 061 .040 -MS .402 

M^v 070 M2 .2,57 M7 

June .'.'.■ OS,? .042 .2.).S .2i7 

I Mnnthlv rr.i|i Reii..rt i f. .^ i. M,iv. 1''17. 

= Tliii tal)lc was compiled from the publications of the liitertiational Insti- 
tute I't .\«riculturc, Bureau of Statistics. 



JOU KI-FECTS UK Till-: WAR Ll'ti.N ACKK II.TL'KE 

191,1 1914 1915 1916 1917 

July 047 .1)54 .Jll JOi 

August 050 . . . ..'lU .357 

ScptcniNer 05G .Ooi .27b .J91 

October 058 .083 .400 .280 

XovcmlRT 05-' .125 .40.? .540 

1 Jcccml.er 046 ,162 .400 .643 

Vcarl\ .\vtr;iKC 054 .067 .274 .400 

In adilnidii Id intlueiiccs that atYect iho supply and ik'niand <>f 

coninioditit's themselves, there is also the iiitltieiice o\ iiiuney 

supply and credit. In ICngland the ratio of gold to notes issued 

stands as follows : ' 

Per ent. 

F.nd of I"14 117.7 

I'.nd of I'MS S7.' 

Knd of I'.iK. J' 

Kml of I'U; ) 

The Economist states ( Xov. 17. 1*M7) that "while the produc- 
ti(.)n of goods ha- been diminished by the withdrawal of men into 
\\;ir >>r war work, the niitpnt of golil has contiimed almo-.t to its 
iiorniad extent an<l paper money has been multiplied by ti\e, with- 
out taking into aceount the liuoe increase in banking credits. It 
is small wonder that prices have risen " 

A-; the I'.i\>niiiiii.\t intimates at the end of the foregoing para- 
graph, the mcrea>c of purchasing ])ower has been furtlier aug- 
menteil bv the inllation of credit. This is accompli-hed l.>y loans 
irotn tlie bank,- fiir tile l)ur^h,l<e of go\ermnent bonds with which 
to linance the war. l'<\ this artificial creatitin of credit, the total 
amount of purchasing jiower of a country is increased, and, if as 
is the case, no increa-e in the xdhmie of goods is brought about, 
inllation of prices is the rc-ult. 

The fortunes of war pi'i]ialii\ h,i\e excited an inllueiice on 
the price le\el becau-e of its p-ychological etYect. In the AUiei.l 
countries sonic of the temporary depressions in tb.e jirice level 
have been attributed to gains t!\- the .\llied armies. In the sum- 
mer of 1''16 it will be noted prices remained stationar_\ for some 

^Economist, Xo\ciiilnr 14. 1''17. 



THE LNITEU KINH.UU.M 



201 



length of time in England, in fact they were depre^^ed suuiewhat 
during part of the Minnner, 'I'his period coincided fairly clo-ely 
with the Allied offensive, and it may be said thai the ^ucce--. of 
this offensive may ha\e t\erted some inlluence upon the ruimg 
prices. The Statist ' ( London ) advances this cau>e for the tem- 
porarv depression of prices in the f<illowing: 

Our index numher sli.;w s that in June tlie prices oi 45 commodities de- 
clined 4.1 per cciii, ullicl*i^ the lirst decided reaction since war began nearly 
two years ago. The fall occurred in nearly all commodities other than tex- 
tiles, and appears to have been due mainly to tlie progrcsN of the .\llied armies, 
and the hope that the end of tlie war is now within sight. . . In other words 
the fall in prices reflects the world's opinion of the probable duration of 
the war. Probably it will be found that if the -Mlied armies meet with any 
dccidcd check, prices will temporarily recover, only to fall again as the 
Allies become stronger and stronger and victory becomes more and more 
assured. 

The hest criterion of the relativ e prices of agricultural products 
is the agricultural index numlier found in the reports of the T.oarJ 
of ,\gricultnre and Fisheries for F.ngland and Wales. The fol- 
lowing tahle gives the inde.K numhers oi the prices of various 
farm products based upon the average prices for the years 1006- 
1<)08.- Three vears before the war are given as well as the three 
war years. The table in itself is very interesting, and tells very 
clearly the changes that have been going on within the industry 
itself with respect to the relative profitableness of different crops 
and products. (These index numbers do not coincide with the 
annual average prices given in Table XXIX becan.se of the 
method used in computing these numbers. The amuial price is 
not taken in determining index numhers, but the price that reigns 
during the months when the crop is usually sold off of the farm. 
Either may be used to show the price trend.) 

.As will he noted the grains — particidarly wheat — advanced 
most in price during the three w ar years as compared to the years 
before the war. 



1 Tulv l.^ I'Jir,. . 

= See Board of \L:riculture and FisIktrs. 
1916, Pert 3. 



.\L'rii-ulti;ral Statistics. l')14- 



202 Kl-Fia-T.-. OK THE \V.\i; I I'liN Ac ;KK TI.TrKK 

TAULL X\l 

Im.i.\ VI MHI.RS uF Phices of I'rhulcl Sold ntF l".\RMb i.\ ICnolanu 
AM) Wales 

AvcraKC Trice, 1906-1908=100 

Comnioditk^ 1-^00-1908 1911 1912 1913 It^-l 1"13 IvlO 

Wheat 100 107 107 101 1.'5 156 20o 

Barlev KX) H'^ 118 11-' lU 100 211 

Oats' 100 114 115 UU 137 163 191 

Potatuis HHt in 124 98 93 120 256 

Beans and Peas 100 Vh 110 103 114 149 179 

Vegetables 100 134 125 HI 134 153 193 

Milk 100 106 109 UX) 109~ 124 lo7 

Butter 100 105 106 105 106 123 144 

Cheese 100 105 110 101 liW 131 157 

Cattle ... 100 103 113 ll.i 117 150 174 

Sheep UK) 87 loo loij 110 126 152 

Pigs 100 100 109 126 118 144 1»7 

Wool 100 1T2 ~^ 132 133 190 174 

Poultry and KsjS^ ... 100 102 IW 103 124 152 

General Index Xuniber. 100 lo^i . '.12 111 138 178 

'J'his ;iicrea>c in the ca^c nf wlicat aiiinunteil t" more tlian 1(X) 
pt-r CL'tit while that of oat- and hark-y i- slii^luly iintkT '••) per 
cem, Potatoes advanced mit of all iinjjxjrtidn in I'llo wlien the 
luiglish crop a-- we'! as ihe world cro]i \\a- short. 

Animal products did not respond to the i)rice changes as greatly 
as did the grains and vegetahks. Milk advanced less than 60 
])er ceni, clieese alioiit .^3 ])er cent and hntter le--- than 40 per 
cent from \''\S to T'l''. Trices for live cattle, -heep, and ])igs 
came np ;i little niorc ih.m dairy proiliict^ in the war year- al- 
tliongli thi> incrc:i-e was hardly UO ]>cr cent. W Ool wa- inonnt- 
iiiLT np in 1"1.^ Init the action of the government in taking charge 
of tlie home clip at a ])rice .^5 ])er cent in e.\cess of the price in 
]ol4 prevented its Inrdier ri-e.' lis ri-e in l''l.^ h.ad ammitited 
to 45 ])er cent. 

The general itide.x niimler ro-e from IIJ in l'*!.^ to 1 7S in 
]'^(h an increase of ahout '>" per cent. The grains greatly ex- 
ceeded till- ri-e while dair\ pioiliict- and tnea! were approxi- 
mateh' lit per cent hclow the general itidex nnmher. with the 

' I.Miidoii /i»i,M-, January 1''. V'\7 i \niuial i'.ilition). 



THK IMTKU KINC.DdM 



203 



price.', of dairy MrtKluets :i little below tho-e of meat. ■"' The mod- 
t.-,l rise i.i pnce of milk and butter as compared with tli ' ot other 
farm protluce shows unmistakably that dairy fanner- on the 
whcjle j^ained le>'- than dio>e who relied on o.rn, gram and. meal 
for their revenue." ' 
„r»"."«» PRICES OF MEAT ANIMALS -GR EAT BRITAIN 




Chart Vll. Trices of M'-at .-\iiiiiials at rriniary Markets, l-or 1917 the prices 
are lor l.oiuJ'in i nl\ . 

The fore.s^oiiiK ob>ervations are further illustrated b\ the fol- 
lowing table : 

T.M'.I.r. XVll 

\VHuI.F..S.\1.K 1'kHKS iiK COM.MOUITIKS I .V I'.N'lIANIl 

lihle.K Ximiliers 



1911 

191J 
1913 
1^14 
1915 
1916 



Corn. etc. 
70 
78 
69 


Meat, etc. 
90 
96 
99 

too 

126 

152 

Increase 

nearly 

69'^c 


an-.l Tea 
61 
62 
54 
58 
70 
86 


Food 
75 
81 
77 


75 


81 

107 


108 


133 

Increase 
nearly 

90^: 


130 

Increase 
over 
70% 



' Board of .\Rrictiltnre and Fistv ries, ,\pricrIt.Ta! Statistic., 1914. Part X 
p. 197. 



204 



Kl-KliCTS (If llIK WAK I I'oN .\(;i<li. Ll,l LKi; 



IIlmc ai:;.'iin it will lie <eoii iliat |:;rnin tanninj,' lia- Iktmi nioic 
profilaljlt' than nK':il and dauv farming'. 

The i|nc~;iiin ar'-c--: Have the t'aniie->' prntlt^ ri-^eii in pru- 
])iii-tii n In the nuTea.-.e ui ih" [iricc^ of his jirddiiet- 1 hey uii- 
<l(i;il)iedly ha\ e nut. 

It is hardly necessary to point out that while tlio^e tisnres give a general 
iudiLatiuii of increased receipts by larnicrs for tlieir pnduce, they afford no 
Kiiide to the profits made by them, which would nccc5:,aril\ depend upon the 
extent to which their outgoings for labor, feeding stufTs, fertilizers, and other 
commodities have increased. For a profit and los< accornt the data are not 
available, but it is evidint that the turnover of I?ritish agriculture during the 
war was substantially Kreater than tlie average, and was probably greater 
than in any recent >ear.i 

Prntits prohahly have risen, as they iiave in most otlier inchts- 
tries. 'I'lie foregoini; thsciission, liowc.-er. hrini;s out the un- 
cveniiess of the ri>e in price and is snnie eriteri(in of the increase 
in prufitahleness of various hranches of the industry. It appears 
to lie tlie universal experience tltat iirain farniinij has i^ained at 
tile expense of meat and dairy farmiiiL;. This unfortunate st.ate 
of affairs has heen partially responsihle tcr tlie dejiletion of'the 
suppl\- of live stock in the \;irious countries with its consecjuent 
shortage of meats, fats, and milk. 

I'ooi) .\.xi) rKiii-: CoNikoL 

The t'lrst Cdniern of the L;overnnient was to oin.iui a suitahle 
siipplv. ('rdiiiai V economic moti\"''s had not met all the demands 
of the .situatiiiii. The next was to effect an cquilalile distrihution 
lo all classes. 

The m;iin reli.ance m iiuTeasinij supply at home was to assure 
producers a jirice which would ensure a jirotit and at the same 
time to keep tiie jirice low eiiouijli to relieve the consumers of all 
unnecessary Inirdetis. This sUL;^a'sted minimum ,ind maximum 
prices, hoth of which were tried, minimum prices or j^^uarantees to 
producers being the main n liance. The n^e of maximum prices 
Avas nnsatisfactorv because thoroni^hly artiticial. With respect to 

> Roard of .Xuricnltiirc anil Fisheries. A'.;ricnltiiral Sl.iti-lics K'14. Part .3, 
p. 197. 






Till-: UNiTEO kim;i»im 



205 



products largely or entirely bnnii^ht from ,ersea^ inaxinnim 
prices to couMimers limiting the profits oi nuddlemen lune ap- 
l,arcntlv been et"t'ecti\e. But even in this care in >ettinR prices 
had to be used, with due regard tor the laws ot supply and de- 
mand. In C.ermany prices were artificially kept so low to con- 
Miniers that the plaii> of that governiiient were avoided, i Dr. 
A. b'.. Tavlor in report |)revioii-ly cited.) 

Suyar 
The beginnings of food control were made witii sugar at the 
outbreak of hostilities, when half the >upply was auioniatically 
cut off. The Roy:d ( -mmi-ion ini the .^ugar Supplv wa^ ap- 
pointed August -'0, -to impure into the -upply of -ugar in the 
L'nited Kingdom; to purchase, sell and control the delivery of 
sugar on behalf of the government and maintain the -upply." ^ 
which had been seriously deranged. Prior to the w.ar l-.ngland 
had received over half of her sugar from the Central I'.nvers and 
about one-<piarter from the rest of Europe. With the be-inumg 
of the war mo-t of this sugar was cut off. The RusMan -upply 
was bl.Kkaded and large sugar beet areas in ITance and Heb^^ium 
had fallen into the hands of the enemy. The supply from the 
\etherlan<ls fell nii almost entirely -o that I'.ngland was forced 
to seek her sugar in another cpiarter of the globe. The task of 
the commission then was to secure for England a sufficient supply 
of sugar from the cane producing centers of the tropical zone. 
In the main the supplv came from Mauritius, ("uba, Peru, and the 
Philippine I.slands.- In this thev were .piite successful as can 
be seen from the imports. They imported more sugar in l'M4 
than in any ni the years ju-^t preceding the war. The import m 
1'113 and I'M 6 were approximately 20 per cent less than the 
five year prewar aver.age. but when the Tupping -ituatinn is 
taken into account, it wi'l be seen th.at this is not a bad record. 
" It was not until early in P'lfi that rcducti.m in supplies, ren- 
dered by exigencies of'tonnage and ..f exchange became appreci- 

1 biterim Report of the Roval Conimi^^ion on Siipar Siipph. 
"■Thr H-nrlh St^ar Sutfy. '>> the N-at,onal Rank of Cniimcrce, Decem- 
ber, 19i7, p. '5. 



.'U6 



liFFIXTS 111- Tin: \V.\K VVOS ACKtCl/LrrRE 



able and sufticiein to attract [)iil)lic noiiit. Xu suricjus privation 
wiiiiKl result it the (luniestic coii>uiiii>iinii ui sii^ar wi'rc ti) he 
Iiinilcd iM tlir(.'i.'-i|iiart(.rs nI a jjound a uci'k ])cr head nf i)i'juila- 
lion " 

.\'c\t in in;]iiirtancc u> thi' assurance ui the su<;ar supi)!)- was 
the arran^^eiiicnt lUr cunitnaiuleenii.i^ wheat thri.)U_i;h her doiniiiiun 
L;()\erinuents. 'litis was accuniiih-hcd m Decenihtr. 1''15, U) in- 
jure a >iilticR'ncy of snj)i)!y a> well as in i)revent speculation ou 
the part oi countries which norniallv exported wheat. In the 
fall of 1916 complete control of t!ie transport c .heat i' r I'.n^- 
land and her allies was placed in the hands of a Royal ^ oiiimis- 
sion oil Wheat Sujiplies. The rapid increase in freii^ht rates, the 
threat risk of tran-port, anil the failure of the wheat crop in the 
northern henn^()here. made the traditip: o\ wheat an extremely 
precr.-ious and spcculati\e business. Kather than let the supply 
oi wheat for their military and civilian population be de[)endent 
upon so many luicertain factors, this commission was formed for 
the dual ptirpo^e of coordinatincr all of the Allied biiyina; under 
one head --o that tiiey wouUl not be bidilini^ a,L;ain>t one another, 
and in uriiiL' that the supplv of wheat couuny to western I'.urope 
would not be shut off. 



nrculstiiffx 

Wheat beinj:; the most important imported food.->tuff the con- 
trol orders issued in respect of this article brm<^ out the policy of 
the new Mini.-trv I'i I'ood wuli re--])e( t to maintenance of the 
sup[)ly. I'or the purpose of conservinj,' the existinj,' stock of 
wheat an order was issued prohibiting' the feeding; of wheat, 
pulse or other strain nr foodsiutTs tn oame. 'Ihen followed 
other order^ which pro\ ided : 

1. .\II llii'iir manufactured in the I'nited Kiniidoni shall be 
" slraiL;hl-rnn llour " (except under authority of tile bUoil Con- 
troller I. 

2. Subse<|uent llour order- pro\ ided for a mixture with wheat 
fli^ur of flour from rice, Ijarley. maize, oats, rye or beans. .After 
.\pril bub the mixture was ordered to contain n^t le-s than 10 



Tin; INlltU KlM.Ud.M -07 

per cent nor more than _'3 per cent of tlnur from some of the 
ab(j\e grain--. 

3. Exiiori oi wheat and nih. r j;ram> and llours irom the 
I'niteil Kingdom was pruhiljited. 

4. No wheat, rye. or rice to Ije used except for : (a) seed ; ( u) 
llour nianuiaciure; (c) manufacture nii<i human iuod. 

5. llour nulls taken possession of hy the lood I. ontroller. 

0. Maximum prices for wheat, harley. and oats harvested ni 
the United Kingdom in I'-'IG. as follows: 

IVr l!u. 

Wheat — 755. per quarter of 480 lbs 5-p'^^ 

Fiarlcv — '.5-. per q i.irt<r of WU \h^ l-^' 

Oats — 53s. per quarter of 31 J llis '•"-' 

These maximum prices were fixed .\pril 20 and. as can he seen 
from the table helou, the prices of these grains remained at ap- 
proximately that level fur the balance of the croj) year, or until 
the new maximum prices for the 1917 crop came into ettect. 

These prices were slightly below the market at the time they 
were set and a great deal below the prices which these grains 
brought in the United States and Canada in the month (jf May. 
Whether thev represent any success in holding down the price 
or not can n.'.t uell be gaitged. In the case of wheat the average 
price per (|uarier since the first of the year was 7.Ss. 8d. ( $2.39 ) > 
while the price set was 78s. t$2.37). The nrice of wheat nor- 
mally rises in the United Kingdom in the month, of May. June 
and Inly, in I'MT, however, with a maxmuim price in etlect, the 
price was held down .somewhat below the price reigning at the 
time the maximum was set. The same is true of oats although 
not of barlev. The price of barley, however, varies more than 
that of either oats or wheat so that it is hanl to arrive at any 
conclusion in uiis case. 

Xo c< ■■'elusions can be drawn as regard the effect of this maxi- 
mum price upon production .luring l'U7 as ,t was set too late to 
have much effect on spring seetling 

The next step of importance in connection with the c.uurol of 

1 Loiulon Tim.-s. .Xugn-t 16. l')17. 



i08 EFFECTS OK THK W\l( UPON .\(;Kirri.Ti-Kr. 

wheat was the niaxinuim price set fi.r the VH7 croj) ui \n!,iist 
15. 'I'lic price-, amiuiiiiccd liy tltc IhihI i mitrollcr arc: 

Wlicat aii'l K>e. t.).it>, per nr Harkj, ptT nr. 

For IK'Iivery per qr. of 504 lbs. of JJb lbs. of 448 lbs. 

lltfore s J s d s d 

neceniher I, 1917 7.i 6 44 ,| 62 9 

Decembfr-J.miiarv. 1918 74 6 43 .i b> 9 

I>bru.irv-.\Iarch.'l918 75 6 46 .! 62 9 

April-.vfav. 1918 7b 9 47 J dJ ' 

.\fltr 

June 1, l')18 77 9 48 6 62 9 

'1''k'sc pricc>, liowcver, are not coniparahlc with tlm-c ^ct in the 
sjirini,'. imr with those prices in tiie tabic hcluu, l)ecau--,c the 
mimher >it the pounds per '|uarter is "greater in the above table. 
'Ihe follow in.i; table gives the |)ricc^ in terms oi 4S0 poiiml- to the 
quarter of wheat, 4(")0 pounds to the quarter of barley. :uid M2 
pound- to the i|uarter of oats. (The amounts per hu.shel in 
.American niones .ire in-crtcd irt ji.ircnthc'-es. ) 

Wheat ami Rve. Oats, per iir. Barley, per <\t. 

For niliviTV pcrqr. nf48nil,s, of31211iri. ..f4H011,s. 

Before ' v '^ $ 5 i/ J ,f ./ $ 

Decembir 1. 1917 70 i2\X) 41 1 i 1 25 1 Sh .i(1.71) 

December-Jannnrv. l'>18 71 0(2.U.) 42 n(l,2S) Su .i 

Febrnarv-.\larcb,'l918 7111(21<M 42 11il,10) Su .? 

April-Mav, 1918 7.? 1 ( 2 22 1 4,Ui)iI,.?5i Sh .? 

After 

June 1. mis 74 1 ( 2 25 1 44 ')(l,!f,) 56 3 

( In converting shillin'^'s per quarter to cents per bU'^lu'l the 
.-hilling'?, were multiplied by 3.t)4 and the result reads cents ]H-r 
hu-licl. ) 

These prices were considerably less, it will be noticed, than the 
niaximuni for the \^\fi cr<ip. l)nt were not far out of line with 
the prices set in the I'nited States .and Can.ai!;! for the I'U" 
wheat crop. 

In 1*)17 the \llied Governments entered into an asjreemcnt 
to purchase grain ,ind certain other supplies through a single agent 
thereby eliminatnifi; the fratitic competitive bidding which for ex- 
ample shot the price of wheat so high in (liicago in May. 1''17. 
the stipplv to each being adjusted as nearly as possible on a basis 
of ci im])arali\ c need. 



TIIK I'Miri) KlM.liMM 



209 



l"nr tlu- I'M'p iTop jK.t.itn prK-i's \MTc M't Jainiary 12 at 160s. 
JUT I. ill t.ir Jamiary aiiW icl.niar\ ; 170~. lor March and April 
and INO^. I'.ir Mav and June, liclnrc tlii> ..rdiT ua> annouiKTcl 
polati.cs liad -"Id a> hii,di a> J4i)s. in l.ivtTp..,,!,' Imt the pnce 
soon driijipcil lidwn tn tlu' maxiiniini and rcniaiiicd there. 1 here 
was some j)r(ite-t a,i,'aiii>t tlii> inainlv l>ecan--e some farmer-, had 
disposed of their potatoes at a mneli hii;her level, while ntlier-^ 
would he foreecl to aeiept the lower prue. 

In 'he control of the potato price- in I'M 7, In-land ha.-^ had 
some verv interesting' experience. M;i\iitinm ]^"Va<'> prices were 
tir-t -et e.irly in j.innarv .at the followinc; rate liv the hood Con- 
troller.- after consultation with the A-ricultural n.'p;irtments of 
("■reat Britain and Irehnd: 

il.^^s. per ton for delivery fmni Septenihcr 1? to January .M , 

vnx. 

IJOs. IKT ton in I'ehrnary-March, l')l.S (ahout ><7 eeiil^ per 
Int. 1. 

130s. per ton for remainder of seai^on. 

These prices were con-idcraMv l>eIow the prices that i.irmers 
expected and were le-s th.ui half of the cost of eed potatoes at 
th.it time A p;reat [irotesf arose from potato prowers atjainst 
these prices. .\i,'ricultural liodies passed resolutions calling,' on 
the Food Controller to recousiiler this action. Their prote-ts 
were answererl l>v Mr. IVothero. rre-i<lent of the Board .if .Vsjri- 
culture. who announced that the policy of the .tjovernment was 
to stimulate the production of potatoes, hut not to cause such a 
lari,'e increase that there wonlil he a trlut of the market. I le .said. 
further, that they w.anted potato c;rowinR concentrated on those 
lanils where the largLSt yield could he ohtained with the least ex- 
penditure of nio!ie\-.'' 

It appeared from this, then, that the c^overnincnt's policy was 

1 London Timts. lanu.iry 1.'. 1017. 
- H'iil.. Jami.irv O. I'M". 
3,7.i</.. lanuan- IS. 1''!". 



210 



KFFECTS OF TIIK WAK L'PO\ AGRICUI-TIKE 



rather to iliscoiiraj^c production of potatoes, at least to force the 
marginal laml out i>f coiiipititioti. 

This explanation ilitl not seem to quill tin protest, so that two 
days later the I'ood Controller announced that the price fixing or- 
der had l)een further considered in view of an unfavorable season, 
and it was decided that " the prices named for potatoes shall not 
Ik; regarded a^ contract prices but as inminiuni ])rices guaran- 
teed hy llic go\ermneiit fur potatoes of liie l'ir>t (|uality." Tliis 
put a ditferent aspect mi i)otati' iirodiictinn and represented a com- 
plete rever>ai nt poluy ni re,i;ard to tln> (,ro|). This imcc, then, 
was the jjrice fixed by the govcriiiiieiit tor tlic 1''17 crop. 

I he etlect of this guaranteed j)rice on the acreage and produc- 
tion of potatoes is easily seen in rctunis for the L'nited King- 
iloiii. 'I'be acreage jumped up to _'10.()()() acres or over IS per 
cent, while the production went up 3,10(),(X)0 tons or •'7 per cent. 
The yield per acre was exceptionally high and this fact is par- 
tially responsible for the large increase in production. Thus Mr. 
I'rothero's fears of a glut in the potato market were realized. 
Before the government prices went into effect (September 15), 
potatoes were sellniL; at about S0>. per ton,' with some a> low as 
/Os. — about the prewar level, .\lter this date the price rcjse to 
12()s. and ren'Mtiv ! ''' • for .;otr.c ♦ime. There were cases, how- 
ever, of sales below the minimum and it was evident tiiai the price 
was being held up artiticially.- Accordingly Mr. C-'lynes in the 
House of Commons, Xo\'eiiiber S, announced the abolition of the 
nnniiiunr price by the War (abinct. Ihey decided to allo\v "a 
free market for sales bv growers throughout the Cnited Kingdom 
siil)iect to the continuance of the existing maximum price of K^l)s. 
jier toll" ,ind certain other reservations. (The maxinmin [irice 
of 130s. per ton li.id previously been set by the Food Controller.) 
In order to fulfil its pledge with the growers, however, the gov- 
ernment decided to conijiensate them for sales at a lower figure 
tb;in 1J0-. in the following ni.anncr : 



' Mr. Rnnriman. in Ifoiise of Commons, October .il. 
= London Times. Xovember 9. 1017 



TllK I NITKU KlNf.lMJM 



211 



Th'- I'oo.l CoutrnMer will i.x nmnd, b> month a base price for each oj the 
prmcpal iK,.ato producnK ..tca» .n the Ln.t.U Kingdom, and every grower 
will rece.NC irom the suxcrninent a nu.i.ey pajment ba!,cd upon the amount 
bv whith .he axerane pnce rc.d./cd b> h.s >al« in lots ol four tons or more 
durins the month falU below th. Kuurai.teed t.«ure of l-'Ov per ton, provided 
that snle, made Wlow the base price will be treated as haMng b.:n made at 
that price.' 

'lliat th.'-i' inininutiii prices were not oasil\ enforccaltle may tie 
.ee.i tn.in tlic iClKuMng exterpt fr..m the .Icl.a.c i.i -lit lluu.se 
of Coniinoiis : 

\tr Clym-s (Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Food). This 
sche<h.le will come in'o operation Noveml>er 19, 1917. 1" the meantime the 
existiuR minimum will rein.u, m force, but the novernmeut will ...t in.tilute 
proceedings under the Uefnisc of the Kc.dm regulations aRa,n>t any grower 
who choose, to sell at a lower -gure. and forego any claim to compensation 
under the government guarantee. . 

Mr Loud, asked with reference to sales which lunc taken place since 
SentemLcr IS-the day on which the government guarantee came into eflfect 
1 would anything be done to meet the cases of those who were forced to sell. 

Mr. C7.V)i.-i indicated that proceedings are not likely to he taken. 

TIu- 10 1 S C'lof^. With ,-i \ifw t.nvanl niaiiitaiiiitrj; a large 
acri-a^c- in p-taincs in I'MS the k"^ crntncnt ^narantccl a iniiii- 
inuinV'^^' >" .i;!'"^^^''''-' ■I'll'-' niiniiiuini scale follows; 



Time "f Ileli\ery 

.Nriv 1 I'JlS-l.iu. .11. I'll') 

JM, N.Mar. h .-1 

.•\l,ril 1-eii.l of season. 



I-.ugland 

and Wales Scollan<l 

Is is 

u fi 5 10 

f. 1(1 6 

7 6 10 



'IlK-e prices were to apply only to potatoes .u'roVMi .^n acreai;e in 
excess of ihe total .acrea'^e under potatoes on the hoUhn'^- in l'»16 
and were to he subject to the conditions that the t-tal acrea-e 
„n<ler potatoes on the holding in question must not he less in UMS 
than in 1017, and that anv directions issued by the I'.oard of .X^n- 
cultuie regarding sprayinj-, harvesting, etc.. shall he duly carried 

out. 

This follows very closely the principle lai.l down m the Lorn 

1 Loudon Times. November 9. 19!" ^ 
= Manchester Cnuirdxan. Januarv .•■. lyiis 



H 



M2 



EFFECTS OF THE WAR ITON ACRUTI.TrRE 



I'roductidn I'ill and earlier guarantees. Agriculture is not to he 
t'oreed to earry the ri>l<s nf weather and niarke; durini,^ thu pres- 
ent crisis in England, hin is f.^iven the asNurance that these risks 
will he borne h_v the people, all of whom are \itally interested in 
the supply of foodstutYs raised in the I'nited Kingdom. The 
guarantee likewise expected to see some of the grass lands broken 
up and ]iut intn jxitatofs in I'MN. 

The l-'ood C'oiuroller further announced (January 3, 1918) ' 
tint he will purchase the entire commercial croj) ni potatoes of 
Cire.at ISritain as from Xuveuilier 1, 1''18. The price will be an- 
iidunced later when the crop is harvested, but he announced a 
muiiinuni scale for potatoes so purchased ranging from 100s. to 
'IS0>. in I'jigland and from ''Os. to IJOs. in Scotland. The prices 
from the Irish crop will be announced later. 

It is not the intention of the Food Contrfilier to fix any prices 
before Xovemher 1. but if the national necessity demands it maxi- 
mum prices may be fixed before then. The-e maximum prices, 
ntjwever, shall not be less tiian ITiOs, per tnn for .August and 140s. 
per ton for September and nctol)er. 

From the Food Controller'> announcement it is evident that 
the government does not wish to ref)eat its exiu-ricnce with potato 
prices in I'M". Instead of a mere ann<nnicement th;'t potatoes 
shall n.)t be --old at le--< than ;i set price, the government j)roposcs 
to buy the entire commercial cro]) of potatoes with the object of 
maintaining the price at a remunerative level. It recognizes that 
prices can not be maiir.iined bv a mere amiouncemeut. but souie 
control over the supply mu^t be exercised in order that the prices 
announced mav be effective. 



Proi'isioiis 

The prices of beef and dairy products were not so responsive 
to war conditions as the price of the cereals. I'cef prices reached 
a higli le\el, hnwe\er, in I'Mo. I'.it cattle wliicli brciught '•>. .^il. 
per stone of 14 poimds in the summer before the war sold at los. 
in the summer of 1016. In 1017 the ))rices rose to 20s. and there 

• M,incliester Ciiardian, J.-miiary i, 1918. 



TIIK r\Iii:i) KINi.UnM 213 

was a f^rcat clamor for the reduction of this price liy the I-ood 
Controller. i'he whole pr()l)lein was complicated by the fact that 
the lack of i(iniiai;c made leetl liard t<i j;et and as a conseiiuence 
it was \erv Inuh in price. .Mr. i'rothero as early as April, I'M", 
annininced that theie would have to he a material reduciion of 
J-^ngland's cattle owni^^ t.) the fact thai all cargo room possible 
would have to be used for human food.' 

Store cattle had likewise risen very appreciably since the bc- 
ginnint,' of the war. This evideutl} wa> due to the fad that 
farmers who w anted t(> *"' d these cattle bid the price up in antici- 
pation of still higher prices of beef. Ikve we see one instance 
of one class of farmers — the breeders and raisers (jf store cattle 
— whose product wa^ very materially enhanced in price by war 
conditions, which brought about the increase in the price of meat. 

When it was proposed by the government to take for the army 
a considerable proportion of the supply of live stock marketed 
in the United Kingdom during the winter of 1917-18, the Food 
Controller set a ma>imtnn price for live catt'.c, as follows: 

T\t ( \vt. 
Time of Delivery (live weight) 

September, 1917 "•♦ 

October '- 

Nnvemher-Decembe *" 

After January, 1918 bO 

Lord Rhondda, the new I'ood Controller, in the House of Lords 
on Iiilv 26,- e.xplained the jirices, saying that they were 60 per 
cent higher than prewar prices. He realized that farmer'^ had 
bought store cattle at titipreceiUnted price-- in anticipation of high 
prices for fat cattle in the winter, and had provided higher prices 
in September and October so that tlie^e farmer> could realize on 
their cattle during these month- without "very heavy lo^>cs.'" 
lie clearly -stated, however, that the price of meat to the con- 
sumer must be very materially rcducec' and felt that tin- was of 
prime importance. 

1 I.ondor 7"imr.f. .Ajiril 14, 1017. 
- Ihul.. IiH- :7, l'>17 



il 



214 



Ei"Fi:rTs (u- iiu: \\.\i< vms AcuicfLTUUE 



As soon as these piice> were announced a very considera le 
protest went up from the feeders and t;razH-rs, i-lainiint; tliat these 
prices would " cau~e tlie reariiiLi; ol cattle ami the piMdiu-tmn of 
meat to lie unreniunerative to fanner^-." ' A nuat famine was 
frecK- ])redicieil due to the fact tjiat no ^ra/ier C'luld at'ford to 
stav in ilie liu^iness with ])rices at that If, el. 

'i'he War . ahme! realized that i^realer production could not he 
secured with tlie farmers in ^uch a di^sati-tied state of mind, and 
they finally conceded the appeal of tlie farmers for a revision of 
the scale of iiiaximuni prices. It wa-- drcKK-d thai the \o\enilier 
and Decenilier price of 67s. per hundredweight should continue 
nniil Inly 1. i''18, and that the TiOs. maximum should then come 
into force for the re-t of the year - This e\ideinly satisfied the 
faruiers a> no further protest was uiited. 

In order that the cost of producing heef should lie cut down, the 
'•'ood Controller ;uir.ouiiced maximum prices for feedini^ stutY--. 
an ap])reciahlc reduction occiirrins,'- in home m.uuifacturcd linseed 
cake from £22 to £]•> jicr ton. 

M.axinHan ]iork jirice- were issued by the Fond Coiitiolkr in 
Nuvenilier, I'M,". The m;ixiinum h\e weight price fir ])ii4s was 
placed at 1S~. per '-core of 20 [iound>. ( AiiproxiuKiteh- $21, ''0 
per hundredweight. ) 

.l/;/A- 

Milk [irices. as we ha\'e seen, did not ve>])ond very (|uicklv to 
the change in the jjrices of other prnducts from the farm, jiartic- 
ularly tho.^e of grain. The contracts made in the fall for the 
winter months of I'.'H were on the a\erage init little higher than 
those of the previous autumn even though grain prices showed a 
rise at the outset. Milk prices advanced steadily tliough skiwly 
during 1915 aiid 1916 as can he seen from the table. The price 
of wholesale milk delivered in l.oi'.di.ii whii'i a\eragcd '^'-'n]. 
(roughly IS'j cents) perg.all.'ii in 1"1,\ rose to i.^d. (,^(! cents) 
per gallon in 1''16. 

1 Re.solmion of Cciitr.il and .\^-n( i.itfd Chambers of .Agriculture in I.nndon 
Tumi's. Siptcmher 7, \')\7. 

-London Timi^s, Octolicr ID. I'.'I". 



Tin: l/MTKI) KIXCIIDM 



215 



This ri>c in ]>rice of so impDrtant a coinmiMlity in the lamil\' 
biKlj^e't iiH't with o])p<)sition from the consumers generally, and 
one of the first orders issuccl hy the lizard of Trade after it liad 
been clothed with iinuei' ti i re^mlate iirices was one ti ■ limit the 
price of milk Tlie tir.-t order i Xoveiuiier 17 . 1916) limited the 
price to ili.it in effect Xuxemlicr 15. 1916. it .also limited tlie 
price for fiitnre mniitli^ in _'d. a i|uait retail .ind 6' jd. per im- 
perial gallon wholesale in excess of the price fur the >ame month 
in the year hefnrc the w.u- 

«»"i,vo PRICES OF BUTTER AND CHEESE-GREAT BRITAIN 



•ic 

42 
38 
34 
30 
26 
22 
18- 
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Chart \"1 



Wli.ili-sali.- Prices ni BntliT arn! riu-f^-r. Tlie rapid rise of 191(j 
was stopped by the I'ood Adniiiustratioii. 



I 



The I'ood Controller next issued an order in Jainiary, 1917, 
which with a siiglit amendment in hehruary j/rovided that when 
milk is sold or otfered for sale wholesale to he delivered on the 
premises or at the railway station of the huser. the price paid 
should not be more than 6! jd. per imperial j^allon in excess of the 
price of milk on the 15th day of the corresponding prewar month. 
I-'or retail milk the excess allowed was 2d. per imperial quart. 

During the spring months when milk contracts were renewed 
summer prices usually came into effect. The F.oard of .Agricul- 
ture, howe\er, realized that the institution of suiutuer prices so 
earlv would have a serious effect on the milk supply, so this 



216 



EFFECTS Ul 



AK LPON- AGRICULTURE 



board succeeded in getting the Food Controller to prolong the 
winter prices until May.' 

In addition the Food Controller guaranteed tli;it the price of 
milk for the winter month- of 1917-l.S shouitl he mil ks- than 
Is. 8d. per gallon. 

F-or the winter of 1''17- 18 the price of milk was set by the 
Food Controller Sei)lenil)er " The sliding .-rale follows: 

For OctolK'r (34 cents) Is. 5d. per iniiKTi.ii ijallc.n. 

For Xoveniber (39 cents) Is. / '{.d. per iini)erial <^Min:. 

For Decemher to March, 1918 (42 cents) Is. 9d. per imperial 

gallon. 

The corresponding retail price was : 
For October (49 cents) 2s. per imperial gallon. 
F-or Novenil>er to March. 1918 (57 cents) 2s. 4(1. per imperial 
gallon. 

These prices represented a material increase over the prewar 
prices obtained for milk. Whether i1k> were high enough to 
take care (.t the exceptional increase in the cost of feeding stufYs 
can not easily \>c answered. It has been mentioned l.>efore that 
the price of milk and dairy products did not rise proportionate to 
the increa-e in gram and nthcr farm pniducts. The reports nf 
the Hoard of Agriculture on prices and supplies of agricultural 
produce for 1914 to 1915 and 1916 show that price of dairy 
j.ruducts lagged behind i;raiu prices. In the l'M6 report it is 
stated that " corn sttmd relatively to 1006-1008. at a iiiglur level 
than animal produce." 

During the autumn of loi7 fre'|uent reference i- made in the 
press and reports of die Department of .\grieiilture relative to 
the shortage of milk. It is said that the shortage c;m be ac- 
comited for on iinrely economic groimds. as milk production m 
manv di-tricts has not been consistently profitable since war con- 
ditions di-turlicd the ordinary routine of intensive dairy farm- 
ers 
In the i louse of Common- on December 6 it was admitted tb.at 



ing 



1 London Tiwf.!. December 3. 1917. . 

= .XgricuUiiral Curic-pondont to the London Times. December J, in/. 



Till; CNITKU KINCIKIM 217 

a -linrt,iL;c 'A milk ol.iaiiK'.l in -<>u\v di.-irict-. I.ikc\vi>c the sec- 
ond Interim Kcpnit ni Uic Ccninmiicc cm I'nuliictum and Uis- 
irilnilidii ci Milk m 1 JccLMnhcr >tatcd that althuuf;li ihey do not 
anticipate a iinlk iamiiR', local shortages will cccur.' 

'llu-^c -h'prtagcs are probably not due t« any considerable de- 
crease 111 the miniber <>i dairy cattle, as the estimate shows little 
decrease, Init il i^ rathev due U> llie decrease m the yield per cow 
(hie t.) the diMria^e and hii;h c-t of feeding stutts. 

The l-'nnd I'outrolier has already guaranteed the price ni milk 
for th. Mimmer period as well a- l.)r the winter <>i I''1S-19 so 
as to encourage milk iinHJuctidn during that ]ieriod. The guar- 
antee provides that the jirice of milk -h:ill hi- the same as that for 
the present winter peril )d.- 

Otlii-r Dairy rrcdii^ls 

Little attempt was made at cmitrol of butter and chee-e until 
the fall iif 1''17. 'I'lie-e iiroducts came largely fruin overseas 
an<l tlieir control thus was (|uite dillicuh. 

rrohalilv the most important oriler was issued late in August 
which prohibited the importation of butler, ham. bacim and bird 
except under licence of the P.nard ni Tr.-'.de.-' Soon maximum 
price- were set buth for cheese and butter iniporteil into the 
L'nited Kingdom, as well as f.ir the d.nnestic pmduct. 

In connection with the above order it wa- aminnncetl that the 
Ministrv of I'ood was setting up m ihe l'nited States a single 
buving ageiicv to 'uv bacon, hams, ami lard. This work i- being 
facilitated bv the Meat iJivision of the l'nited State- b'ood Ad- 

nu'nistratinii. 

« 

SfMMAKV 

In 1-aigland the Mini-try of I'ood wnrks \ety clo-cly with the 
Hoard- of Agriculture of ITigland. Scotland, and Ireland. In 
general it can be said that the I'.oards of Agriculture in the i^res- 
ent eniergencv in addition to their regular duties, engaged in 



' MaiK-he-tcr Cuardiiiii. December 21, 1917. 

^ lI'iJ., January 1, 1918. 

3 London Times, .Xiigiist 3, 1917. 



218 



Kl"FECr> OV i'lli: U Al< I TUN ACUll LLTL'IU: 



pn.motini,' the increase <»t" a^^ricultural prMiliKlinii, with -iiccial 
iciLiiiicc U) corn and other essential foodslutts. 

riic 1-'()(h1 (.(iUtKiller regulates the supply and >alc of lood- 
stulYs with a view toward "securing an equitable ilispo-al and 
distribution oi" all c--t.uual articles of food." 

The Hoard of Agriculture iuw for its main work the increase 
in production and is thus handling the supply from the producer's 
end. The Food Controller, on the oiher hand, is primarily inter- 
ested in the sale and distrihutiou of foodstuff- ami is. therefore. 
interested in the consumer's end. 

I'rom the beginning food conirol in I'-nglaiid ha^ been a difti- 
cnlt task. With the tremendous increase in the co.-,t of ft)od- 
stuffs and its consequent effect upon the laboring classes, there 
aro-e the feeling that ])rotitcering was rampant. I he puhhc 
clamored for the institution of some department that would be able 
to secure cheai>er food for the iieople. 'ioo nmch was expected 
of the l'"ood Controller and hi.^ orders. After l.ord Devonport 
had been ni ofiice fne ni<inth^ he was berated because profiteering 
had not been curl>ed and becau-e the price level was still rising. 
In lune he resigned on accoum of ill b.ealtli. al^-l was succeeded 
bv Lord Uhondda. who instituted a more vigor.. u- ]).ilicy of con- 
trol. As he .-tated m the House of Lords on July 26, his policy 
was to " fix the prices of those articles of prime neces^^ity over 
the supjjlv of uhuli 1 can ..btain ciVective control at all ■ tages, 
from the producer ^U<^\n to the retailer. Such i)riccs will, as tar 
as j)ossib!c, be fixed on the ])rinci|)lc of allowing a '-easonable pre- 
war prolit for tho>e engaged in the production .ind (lisiiilmiioii of 
the particular commodity. Indeed, the policy will, in elT"ct. be 
one of determining profits at every stage, though it will take the 
form of fixing prices," 

More emphasis is placed upon control than upon price fixing as 
an arbitrary nie:ms of holding down prices. With a system of 
control over the distri1iuli.)n :ind ^ale of a commodity, profiteer- 
ing can be eliminated, an.l fo.nl c.mtr.il will have accomplished 
Its end. Thronghout ihc present b'ood Controller's policy has 
Ijeen control of supply and profits rather than prices as such. 



THE U.Nnil) KIXCDOM 



:i'.) 



Maxinnim wliolcsale ;iik1 retail prices have been set on necessities 
of life beginning' with the primary producer or importer and 
ending with the retailer. At each step, then, profits are lixed and 
the public is aware of any profiteering. This policy puSMbly 
may not satisfy those people who insist that present prices of 
food are entirely the result of speculation. With the facts before 
the public, as they now are. however, this view can not long oli- 
tain. The public is being enlightened as never before about (|ues- 
tu-ns of marketing and distribution of the every-day articles of 
consumption. 

T.M'.l.l- XVllI 



Wheat Biirley 
.•\cres .Acres 



U.NrrE 


) KiN<;i>oM 1 


Acreage 


under Crops 


Oats 


Potatoes Beans 


.•\crcs 


.■\cres /Xcres 



Turnips & Man- 
Ptas Swedes Rold 
Acres .Xcrcs .Acres 



1910... 
1911... 
1912... 
IQH... 

l')l^ , 
A\e. 
1010-14 
191.^ , . 
1916 .. 
1917... 




i''JU5',9J3 l!873,iSO 3,899.U74 l,.'()y,150 .V)l,448 169,938 1,760,629 510.893 



l,89.i.8S0 1.S56.000 4.033..^40 l.isr).(,4.? 290.047 
2.,i35.091 !..=;24.316 4.1,'!2,296 1.214.4.^8 273dl' 



I7.-,(H1 1,802.87.1 .'27.8.-0 
I.i0,.i07 h(<2^.SS'> 4'»'»,S04 



20i3io8 lVn3'376 4.171..^';3 l.l.i.1,404 242.8(U 113,474 1.623.161 461.823 
105,929 1.797,227 4.789,010 1,377,311 21(),8W 103,294 1.676,8S8 482,942 



Clover ami 
Rotation 

t'aWi.i.£;e, etc. Grnsses Fallow 

Acres .Acres .Acres 

19in 192.918 6.670..i98 3,'4.472 

1911 198.077 fi.7.=;9,.=;82 .329.814 

1912 21.i.346 6,668,701 281,231 

1913 18<l04,i 6r,43,146 .i96,472 
1014 192,145 6,606,046 348,.S32 

Ave 

1910-14 .. 197.,m6 6.669,.';75 ,342.104 

1915 184.384 6.462.279 316,870 

1916 183,346 6,763,01 1 430,4^5 

1917 152.195 6,037,483 361.925 

' Compiled from Reports of the Board 
cultural St.-.tistics, Part 1. 1010-1016, 



Total 
Aralile 
Acres 
19,603,821 
19,686,7 J2 
10,746,876 
111,431,716 
10.414.166 



Total .Acr'ee 
Permanent under Crop 



! .rass 

Acres 
27.227.816 
27.239,778 
27,046,871 
27..«W,188 
27.340,650 



& Grass 
.Acres 
46,o,;i,637 
46,O26,50<1 
40,703,747 
46,740,004 
46,763,816 



10,576,660 27.2.-4,661 46,801,321 

10,146.-0,1 27,328,814 46,675.404 

10 409.475 27,18S,0,!7 46,687,512 

19.748,414 26.588.378 46.336.792 

of .Agriculture and Fisheries, .Agri- 



ll 



220 



EFFECTS HF THK WAR LTON AGUICL'LTt'KE 



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J HE UNIiEU KIMIDUM 



TABLE XXI 

XLMBEUi OF Live Stock Retlrxeo at the Variols ^L\RKET3, 1912-1916 > 

Fat Cattle Dairy Cows Calves l"at Sheep I'at PiKS 

191 > tVjW) 80.314 143,551 2.814,313 6S6,55«) 

yn ■■:::::: 65o:525 wku 151.708 3,113.9,12 57u-w 

1914 631,695 102.127 154.02<J 2,831.070 59/./ 18 

9 5 651.293 103,319 ]M,MA 2.749,400 641.588 

1916 ;....... 677,939 100.572 121,213 2,747.142 562,339 

» Agricultural Returns of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, Part 3. 



TABI.i: xxu 
Quantity of Gr-mn Reported from Engl.vnd and Waljs 

Wheat, Qrs. Barley. Qrs. O^ts. Qrs. 

1909 2 64U25 2.699.028 905.983 

1910 "". 3.072.523 3.205.203 791,121 

1911 3.140.257 3.123.986 8^8.341 

1912 '" . 2.365,596 2.165.572 630.755 

1913 ;;.;;;;;; 2.511.297 2.948.930 539,293 

•\vc VooO-1.1 2.746.180 2.82.><.664 765.100 

iou ! 027.476 3.403.072 1,1'>4..561 

19 5 .;■ .i;225.m 2,5.52.128 1.1.-^1.480 

1916 ■":■.■. 3.6fl0..?91 2.1.S2218 1.12'>.0'_)f, 

1917 ;'. 2.386,1% 2,410.900 82j,0/2 



222 



EFFECTS UF Till; \V.\l; LTUN A(;UICULTL'Ri: 



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TIIK LNUI-1) KIM.IxiM 



223 



T M'.Ll. XXIV 
Imports ok the UNiitu Kingdom 
Sugar and Cotton, yiiantitics 
SitKar, Cwls. 

J909 J5,iy(M34 

lyiO "" J4,504.iW7 

ion J7.'Jf)0..'U4 

iyi> J4..iM,5.!J 

1913 '.;'.;; J9.385,lyO 

Ave. \9m-\i 

i5l4 39,86(),«W 

1915 29.(>47,13.3 

1910 30.W^7,171 

\<)\7 



Cotton (Raw),C\vts. 
iy,54.',51.J 
17,<>l.i.7fK) 
J_',070.8.S1 
_'«,05K,17S 
.'1.74.',y90 



18.641,JJJ 

26.476.161 
21,71(l.l.'i 
10,500,000 



TABLE XXV 
Imports of the U.nited Kingimm 
Grains ami VeKCtatile Products, Values' 

Wheat, lbs. Rarlov.l'is. Rean?. lbs. Peas, lbs. 

1909 51.642.611 7,14.V84Q 7,v.60O 603.054 

mn 4<M,717«') 5..i'»(^4.^i 311,f.76 718.74(1 

,9, 44'lS6 8.i'» 8.J(y>.145 i'S.m 1.012,8(,_' 

{92 510(,,t7,i'. 7.K71..^fl 470.K47 1.201.6(12 

1013 .'.'.'.'.'.'... " . 50.1%,'-i44 8.077,100 568.18') l,fK)6.735 

iVu '""^~' 50'283'l27 .5//>n;3i2 502^928 .546.470 

.s •:.:;:;:; 65:617352 6.020.8*/-, ■.^■^.m 872,407 

19I6 ;:;: 80.581,353 10,411,218 687,110 i.2'M)..,(b 

> Value of Imports computed from C. I. P. Prices. 



Rice, lbs. 
2.849.057 

3 530.7i>'> 
2.017.410 
3.756.079 
3.208.733 

,U6i!.580 
6.725.760 
8,192,765 



II 



TAI'.l.K XXVI 

Imports of the Unitep Kisr.noM 

VeKctahlcs, Sugar, etc., VaUics 



1009 
I'MO 
1011 
1012 
101,5 
.Am- 
1014 
1015 
1016 
1917 



Potatoes, lbs. Onions, lbs. 
1.213.518 
1 042.674 
1.222.211 

1.. 103.388 
1.035.053 



1000. 1,5 



1.407.875 
I.2OI.50I 
l.,?02.44« 
1.74? ."S 
2.580.038 

1,.=;35.515 
1.187.840 
1.118.831 



1.480.773 
1.780.547 
2.062.140 



.-\pplcs. lbs. 
2007.011 
2. 180.309 
2 232.902 
l507!024 
2.230.370 

2046,824 
2.323.J40 
2.741.102 



Sugar, lbs. 
21.691.894 
24 554 20") 
26 586.830 
25.140.661 
23.0«).()21 

.>2,n8.176 
31,812.160 
37.,%7.675 



Cott 
60 
71. 
71, 

80 
70 

5i 

()4 
84 



on. lbs. 
295 049 
711 008 
155.514 
238.060 
570.547 

350,flOO 
,071,653 
,729.677 



*l 



EFFECTS OF THE W.vK LTON AGRICULTURE 



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.Mll.U KIM.UOM 



lAULE XXIX 

PBItfcS, t.NOLANU ASK NVAU- 

Average Annual Pnce per Innxrial U-arter oi br.f.h o-rn 
Wheat 480 lbs "" 



1909 
1910 
1911 

1912 
19U 



s 

Ml 

i\ 

M 

J4 

.il 



Ave. IWi-lVl.^ \i 



1914 
1913 
1916 
1917 
1918' 



J 

11 
M 
8 
>> 
8 
4 

11 

10 
5 
8 
3 



Ilarle>4(J<llbj. 



JJ 
27 
JO 
27 
27 

7 



:/ 
37 
53 
04 
60 



U) 
1 
3 
8 
3 

-> 

4 

8 
4 



Oats 312 lb^ 
s d 
18 
17 
18 
21 
19 
19 
20 
30 
ii 
49 
56 



It 

4 

10 

6 
1 
1 

11 
2 
5 

10 
9 



> For September 7, 1918 



TABLE XXX 

FrANXE.' GtK.M VNV. ANU ENOUAND CuMPARED 



Population ." '. ' u'.,,.- 

Population engaged m agriculture. . 
Total .icreaKe under cultivation .... 
.\creage under plow 



Acres growing bread gram . . 



L'nittd Kingdom 

45,0(K>.fK)0 

1.350.000 

48.000.000 

20.000.000 

1,790,000 



•\cres growing oreau (,'■»'" •■•■• , cAfinflOOO 
Total imshelstf bread gram produced 56.000.0^ 

Head of cattle ; ', i. 

Per cent of cultivated surlace under 

Per cent'of'totaV cultivated area grow- 
ing bread grain • ■ • 

Prodution of bread grain per capita 

Per cent of population engaged m 

agriculture 



60% 
90 lbs. 



Germany 

O^.OOO.IHX) 
10,000.000 
86.000.000 
65.000,000 
■>0.000.00() 
584.000.000 
20.000.000 

20% 

25% 
485 lbs. 

17% 



France 

40.U«J(».00O 

8.(X)0.(KX) 
67.tKKI,lKIO 

47,0<K).UUO 

19.500,000 

376,000.000 

14.000.000 

30':'o 

30% 
500 lbs. 



20% 



Increase or Decrease 



of \Vlie..t .Acreage During Pa^t 30 Wars 
Great I'.ritain 
30% Decrease 



France 
T'.'o Increase 



Gerr"any 
257c Increase 

Increase in Number o^ C-.e in^40^ears^^^^^^ 

Germany ,- " n ooo.OOO to 14.0(X).0(K) 

France . . • . ■ {.-;°,„ jq.OOO.OOO to 1 1,C30.(X)0 

Vuiled Kingdom ^ f°"' 

Pigs and Sheep During 40 Vears 



GiTinany 

I'raiice ■ ■ ■ 

United Kingdom- 

Gennaiiv 

United Kingdom . 



Has increased hir stocU of pigs from 7.O00.O0O to 22.000.000 
Has increased her stock of pigs from S.OOO.OO^Mo 



I See Collings, .Tessc — The ur. 



Same as 40 years ago 
Number of sheep has fallen li 
Same as 40 years ago 

■j( [Car- I'll 



,000.000 

4.0(X).OO<) 

rom' 25.000.000 to 6,000.000 

28.000,000 



INDEX 



A,Ian<l, F. !>.. IM, note S; l^S. rote 1 
Agricultural cullcgcs, 71, »3. 'J'. 'J-. H". 

1 3 f 1 
Agricultural committees (U. K.I, 1»3, 

IHii, ISS. 
Agricultural implements — ii-r larming 

inailiinery and imiiUmcnts. 
As-rieultural |.roM.erity: cereals, IbU; ani- 
"nials auJ annual pro.lucts. ll,.l, lt>... 
income ui farmers. 101: exl.ftul.tnre 
for labor. IC-', lOH; c,„t of lan^., 1.,-. 
103; discussion, '.lol ., . . 

Agr.clture. Hoard ..f .1'. K.): efforts to 
increase arable land, l-s 1'"': '■"'", '»■ 
l,„rers secured from War Office, 1!"^; 
-timulation of home production, IfC- 
IHS- machinerv furnished. 187: prices 
g„a;antrcd. 1»S: rents settled 189; cu 1- 
tivati.in cnf> 'ce,l and wages fixed, IVJ, 
plans for 191S and after. 1J», 1"1; mi k 
prices regulated, -.'i:.; ^operation with 
Ministry of To..!. 217: functiotis, -.MS. 
President of — see Selborne, Lord — 
Prnthrro, Rowland K. 
Agriculture, Department of (h. S P"' 
war organisation, 70; legislation :'""■'•"• 
ing 71: cooperation with agricultural 
colleges and other ..rgani/.ations, 7.', 7:!; 
food surveys and agricu!tur.al censuses. 
7', 7fi' assistance concerning labor, s., 
distribi'iti.n of nitrates, in ; cooperation 
with Food Ailmiaistratinn, 1",, 11^, H'i. 
publications to aid conservation. 1'. J. 
Agriculture. Secretary of - 5« Houstott. 

riavid K. 
Alabama: corn production. :!..- 
Alcohol: restrictions concerning, VM, i . J, 

Allied purchase of supplies, li9, Kl", l'-^. 

sod. '.'lis. 217 
American Railway Associ.ition : coopera- 
tion of, with Bureau of Markets. '.U. 
Argentina; Krain exports. :>. 3a. M. 39: 
sheep, 14; >hip shortage, 32, 39; mutio-, 
exp.irts. IS". 
Arizona: cattle increase, .'.«, 
Arkansas: corn acreage. 31-.. 
Australia: grain exports, 5: sheep. 1 ship 
shortage. 35; sugar con-umpt:on. r.. 
mutt ■ 1 exports, 180; wheat supplo--. l.«. 

l^''' • . .1 10',- 

Austria ITungary: cotton imports. 44. 1 .L. . 

sugar expnns, ml. 177. 179, 19S; crop 
acreage. 173. 

i; ■>;_ prewar conditions. S. 1»; pri s, 
56, 4", liT; acreage and production. 



39; exports, 49; comparison with 
wheat, 157; statistics. 11. ;'.'. r.o. .M. 
U. K — prewar conditions. l7o; imports, 
17S isil; production, l^H; prices. 174, 
105-19., 199. 507. 508; flour ■ order, 
sue; statistics. 173, 505, 507, 50S, 219- 

Uarrctt, Chas. J , 119, note. 
Ueans and peas: acreage and production, 
45-17."'; legislation concerning. 1"4; gov- 
ernment purchase of. lo4. loii, lU: sta- 
tistics. 11, 19, .iO, 51, 5'. -"■-'• "•'■'■ '-■"• 
555, 253. 
Beef and beef products: 

U. s.— prewar exports. 19; prices, oO, 
Ifill; number of cattle used for, I'lK: 
exports, 00, M.j; government control, 
135; statistics. 21. <>7. 
X;. K.— imports, Iso; prices, 191. 19;i. 
190, 203, 215, 213: statistics, 551. 
I>et sugar — sec sugar, 
llelgium: cotton imports, 44. 19.1; sugar 
inipor»s 145; cattle confiscated. liO; 
areas o.errun by soldiers. 199; sugar 
areas destroyed. 20:, 
Uerkelev conferrnce. 7o; hotel. 75. 
Hoanl of Trade — sre Trade. Hoard of. 
Hoys' and girls' clubs. 74. 7,"i, "0. 
Itread — see Wheat 
i;reckenridge. Prof I.. 1'., Ill- 
I'.uckwheat; production. 9; acriage, 40; 

statistics, 11. 19, r,o, 51. :V5 
Uurdie, F.. W., 130 

Hure.au of Crop Kstimates. 54. 7j. 144 
lUireau of Markets — ,.ff Markets. Iiur.au 

of. 
Hut'er. T.dt. 13:l 
Hotter' . 

I- s,_ prewar exports. 21 prices. OH, 
.;i 134; aid of Hureau of Markets, 
93'; government control, 134; substi- 
tutes 13.'.; statistics, 51. 67. 
j^T K — imports. 171. '79; substitutes, 
179. 1?"; prices. 19.i. 190, 5o5, 2"3, 
215; government control, 517: statis- 
tics. 295, 594. 

rallfornia: wheat. 1»: cattle. .'.S; farm 
linil '^l' labor, S4; milk. 13H. 

Onada; food production. 5. li; wheat pro 
duction. 0; oats production. 8. 39: oats 
exports. 3S; sugar consumption, 145; 
grain prices. 507. 298, 

Cane sugar — see Sugar 

Canning clubs. 70 

Carpenter, O F., 130, note 1. ... 

Cattle <see also Cows — H.-ef and beef 
products) : 
227 



228 



iNin:x 



171; 

213, 

, 07; 
^4; 



I rnal (.t- 



egKs in, 
cnsed, 



U. S. — prewar conditions. 13, 10; num- 
ber, 50. 58 ; prices. 5«. 5s ; exports, 
tiu; statistics. 13. ".M. 5U. 6t>, 67. 
V. K. — prewar conditions, 170, 
method of raising, 176; prices, 
2ii:j, i'Ki; government control. 
i.'W; statistics, ','i>»'. "*M.!. ^'■,'o-*»»i;j. 
Censuses and surveys: food. 71, 7.j, 
^et■d slock. 7 J, 7^ : labor. 7t;. o3, 
dairy herds. 14-1; live stock. Kit. 
Central Towers: »»('oI imjiortations, fi.'»; 
compulsory food cotistTvatum, l')7; sunar 
exports, 205. See aiso Germany — Aus- 
tria-Hungary. 
Cheese: 

L'. S. — prfwar conditions, '2'^, (Jo. f.l ; 
prices. (■>!, 113; exports, (ll ; govern- 
ment control, 133; statistics, 21. 67. 
U. K. — prices, 62, 105, :.'•»■.', -.'17; im- 
ports, 176; governmtnl cuiitrol, 217; 
statistics, 20?, 204. 
Chile: nitrate eximrts. 0", '.'1. 
Churches — see Religious and fr.i 

panizations. 
Gynes. J. K., 210. 211. 
Cold storage; re|iorts on meat and 
04; regulation of. Oo; companies li 
110. 
Colorado: cattle increase, 5S. 
Commerce: r>('partmcnt of, 107; Secretary 

of, 73. 
Commission of Pulilic Safety. SI. 
Commonwealth Club of California: report 

of, on unnscd land. ■'^1. 
Contlensed niilk; prewar conditiuns, ..'1; U. 
S. exports. 61, 62. 142; prices. 62. 142; 
conditions at condenseries, 1 43 ; liritish 
imports, 170, ISo; statistics, 21, 67, 22 4. 
Conservation work: clubs. 76; war gardens, 
80; policy of Fooc Administration, 106- 
lOS; trade organiz.^tions. lo<.t, iln; c(hi- 
catinnal institutions, ll'i; women's or- 
ganizations, lilirarits, religious and fra- 
ternal organizations, hotels and resta'j- 
rants. 111; trar«portation companies. 
112; visual instruction by Depa-tmcnt of 
Agriculture and Food Ailminist ration, 
112; speak ini< campaigns, personal can- 
vass, cooperation of press. 11" ; licenc- 
ing. ]1.'». 
Com : prewar conditions, 7. T>: acrcnge. 
34. 3.'»; protluction. 36; prices. 26, ;i4. 
4H. 63. 70. l.'^O; exports, 36; scarcity nf 
seed, 7S; State «id, 78, 70; government 
control 52, 79, 13"; hog-corn ratio, 130- 
132; si..;. sties, U. 10. .^)0. 22-.'. 
Corn Production ■lill, iSfi, iss. 211. 
Cotton : 

U. S. — prewar conditions, lo. 12. 1 -, 
43; 1014 crop, 43: 101.'> cmp. 46; 101»l 
crop, 47: 1917 crop, 4^; summarv. 40; 
prices. 44. A'\ 4«. 4'>. 16o, 161; sta- 
tistics. 11, 10. 50, .-.1 
U. K. — imports, 41. l'*'^; prices. 10.'^, 
106; mati=tic«. 223, 
Cotton. Joseph Pntter. 120. 
Council of Defense — see Defense, Coun- 
cil of. 



County agents and extension workers, 71, 

77, ^l, 5^, »6. 
Cows: prewar conditions. 13, 171; number, 

66, 144, 14J, 176; prices, 67, I.i;(, 14.'), 

160; other sUtislics, U, 66, 144, ;;2i>, 

221, 223, 
Crop Khtimates, Bureau of. 24, 7J, 144. 
Cuba: sugar production and exports, y, 10, 

116, 2116. 
Cultivation of land: in U. S., 156-la9; in 

G. li.. ISO. 104, 200. 

Dairy products: 

U. S. — prewar exports, 14, 2"; prices, 
60, 61; exports, 61, lu5; aid of liureau 
of Markets, 04 : government control, 
i:;*«-l4"); stiniulation of industry, 14^, 
I l.'t; statistics, 21. 62, 67. 
r. K— imports, 170, ISu, 182; prices, 
101. lOJ, 203, 212, 214, 215: govern- 
ment control, 217; statistics. 202, 224. 
Davenport, flugeiic, 127, note 3; 138. 
Defense of the Realm regulations: powers 

granted Food Controller, 103. 
Dt-lawarc; milk control, 137, 142. 
Defense, Council of: creation, 72 ; organ- 
ization of system, 73 ; cooperation with 
Department'! of Agriculture and Labor, 
73. 83; work of. 7::, 7t. 78. 80; aid in 
marketing, 91, 97; cooperation with Food 
Admini tration, 105, 109. 
Demonstr tion work, 71, 77. 
Denmark suyar c<msuin[ition, 1 (.'. 
Dejiar^m nt of Agriculture — sec Acricul- 

ture, Icpartmrnt of. 
Devonp rt. Lord, 103, 218. See ah) Food 

Cont, oiler. 
Doak. \Vm. N'.. 110, note. 
Draft and enlistment: elU-ct of. "U l.iljof 

supply, S2, SS, 1S8. I'J'J. 
Durand, E. Dana, 130. 

Kducational iiistiiutions: cooperatiun with 

I'ood Administratii'ii, 1 lo, il;i. 
Fggs: 

I'. >. — prices, 6] : cold storage reports, 
V ; . motor transportaton, O'^ : govern- 
ment control, lOS. 135; statistics, 21, 
67 
r. K.— imp.'rts. 17t, 179, 180; statis- 
tic«. 2o;'. .,■■.'4. 
F.ve. II, Trustram. 182. 
Fvvnrd. John. 130. 

Farm Labor — see Labor on fanrr;, 

Farm L.ibor Bureau, lialtimore, Md . 83. 

Farm l.ind: 

C S — prewar condtti"'ns; State efforts 
to increase, 81 ; effect of war price*: on 
cultivation, l.^f'-iriO; cost. 162, 163. 
L*. K — prewar conditiors, 168-170; cul- 
tivation urged, 181; arable land in- 
creastd. iSTi, 10", 2oit; measure*; taken 
to increase cultivation, 181, 1S5, 1S9, 
106. 104; plans for future, 190. 

Farm Loan Ttoard. 87. 

Farmer^' I'nion. 46, 

Farming machinery am! imidetnents: 



INl)l-.\ 



129 



oi.trul 



r. 



(_• s — aid in hiiyiiiB. " 
licclisca lo liealcra, 115; 
m(,acU. 14'.'. Pr'"S. 1«1. 
y K _ aid m ubLiminK, 181s 1" 
r,.leral Tradi; CommisMon. 1»7, l.-l 
.;.d c.operat.ve buymg 77: leg.sla ..,n 
omccrnn.g. 1U2; comrol of prices, 1-1. 

r.^L labor ..n farms: ««, 87, ll>7, l^- 
1 .rtihiffs: I'riwar condmoiis, .*, J". 
'':;.;, o, mauruls, 4S, >|^ B.v„nn,e„. 

„urch..si. of n.lralcs. VI . IcBi'ljUo" Y 
'vr,un«. ■.!. 1"^; "r.'.^h rcgviUuon, l»o. 
rit^palrict, Jobn ]., l.!"- 
llax, U, 'oK. bl. 
I-lorida; labor question, UJ. 
ii,,Mr — st-e Wheat , 

r„od A,ln:,n,strat:..n: creation pro|.o«ed, 
lol; organization, lOa. l"-i; "■'^^^■■";''" 
„olicv liill-U's; cooperation ol eilab 
lished' agencie., mb-n-^. appeal to con- 
sumer, U-J-IH; licensing polK>. "« 
U6ri.r.ce control, 110, 117-. wheat con- 
,roI. 117-iab; meat control, -J .«; 
control of dairy produc s. !■« J<''' 
sugar control, lla-H'J; control of »oo , 
t«ine and agricultural implements. U.'. 
sutemen. of re.ults._ Io0-lu3; criticism 
ainl comment, 1j3-1.>'>' . 

tLi Administration Act; purchase of ni 
tratcs authorized by, yl. leading 
tures, l"2-ln4; control rrovided 
114; authority granted rresident, 
1<>0 V.'O. whe-it price fiMe<l, l-l' 
Food ■ Administration — sec Hoover, 

,.-o';J' Controller (U. K-: *--^,«„ ^Jf^' 
1^(1; prices fix^I. l^''- '/' ' ",.♦„».=' 
212-217: agreement t- purciia.c i 
,,„. 2l-.>; duties and powers, 1.'3, 1J4, 
summary, SI 7-il'-'- establishment. 

Food. Ministry ot II. "^ '■ '"''" „ .. 

Ts5 lo;!; powers, l'.l;l-194; P" icy, ^"'■ 
wh;->t orders, 20C>: association with 

S ;ds ^f Agriculture, =17; =7-;;=;^,;>/. 

work, 217-219. iVf also lood Control 

ler. 
Food pledge card, 113. „,incipa1 

Food I'roduction Act: title, .H- Jirmcn a 

features, 71; other provisions. ,•.'. • ■' 
Food subktitutes: sale of, recommended, 

Fo,!ir surveys -.c. Censuses and surveys. 

l-,.rd. Henry, 89. 

Four minute men. 113. „,„.l„,. 

France: foo.l imports ^- «• P;""'" .''™^" , 
,i„n 9; sugar production, 9, Ufi. »he.it 
short.,ge, 31: rye imports, 34; oats im- 
p.r s 39; cotton imports, 44: sugar con- 
l^r," 147- crop acreage, 173; cattle aken, 
ITC,: arable land overrun by S"'d>"S. 
109: sugar areas ruined. S'V;; statistical 
com'parison with England and Germany, 

Fimk.' Fugene E , 119, note. 
Funk, I.. 1' . 13"- 



I.enlrv, N- U., l'"- 

I .-..ri/1.1- corn iiroducllon, <io. 

~iior-'r::'-r';,t;?:r 

imports, 41, r.'o; pota,suira exports, 9o, 
experience with maximum prices, 11», 
sugar exports. 14.i, 177, 179, 19s; vwla- 
ti,.ns of neutral rights on sea, 1..:. 
pr.paration for war, 172; crop acreage. 
17:i; live stock, 17C.; price control ...... 

statistical comparison with Lnglainl ami 
prance. 22.''i. 
Government aid; farm supplies and equip- 
ment. 71, 73, 7» so, ss-.jl, 1m.. l;.". 
labor, 71, 73, 74, b2, Ki, 1''7; extension 
of credit, S7 S'.l; marketmg. .3. .4. ■■• 
91-99, l.'*5, 191, a"4, 211. "10, .17^ 
Goverm.rs' Tri State Commission, U., 14^- 
Oain C.rporation; regulation of expor s 
31- creation, lOo, ll"; con.mittees, 1"0. 
1 ; price of v^heat fixed. 119, 129: sus^ 
penso.n of exchanges, 129; agreement 
lith Allies and power to purchase, 120, 
121. 
Grain Stanilard Act, 90. 



fc 

for. 
11>', 

ller- 



Harris. John H , \M. 

ay: -ports on stocks and prices 9,^; m- 
7re;.-e m price, l.>, 10". statistics, U, 
r,n, 51, 219, 220. 
Hoarding: legislation concerning -. ■ . 
measures taken to prevent, l.o, little 
done by wheat farmers, U:,; cause of 
tra.U disturbance, 198. 
Hogs — sec Swine. 
Holden. P. G., 138. 
Holland; sugar exports, 140 2»S. 
Hoover, Herbert: appointed 1-ood .\dm,n.s 
trator. lol, 1"4; policies of, 19,1, 19,. 
132, 153. 
Horses and mules: 

[• s — prewar conditons, \'- • 
.',1, .'».'>: prices, 54, 5.'., lOo; 
h] statistics. 13, 21, 00. BT 
U K -number. 170; exports. IS!, pro- 
vided by government. 190; rationmg 
order 194: statistics. 220. 
Hotels and reslaur.ints, etc.: cooperation 

with Foo.l Alministration. lU. 
Houston, n..v.d r., 10, 09, 70. 73 



number, 
exports. 



(id in marketing. 9" 
■ corn, ;;.'■: milk. 13S. 



wheat supplies. 
89; seed. 



Idaho: wheal. 2 
llllnol^; \Kheat. 2S; c 

141, 142. 
India: grain exports, 

Indiana: wheat. 27, 2S. com. 3.' 

79; silos. 90. 
Interior. Secretary ^f 73^ . ,^,„,, ,,.^ 
Iowa: wheat. 28, corn, a.), .f 

sdo campaign. SO; market aid, ,>8 
Italy per capita food production. 5. sugar 
^production. 9; wheat shortage, 31; sugar 

imports, 140. 



(larfield, Harry A., 119, note. 



Java: sugar supplies, 140. 193. 



;;ii.\ 



250 

Kansas- »h<-a., 28. V-M; com, 35 7S; oats, 

37" labur, ^3, ft^. marki-t anl, yo. 
Kcntutl-v: torn, 30. 
Kittle, W. J , l^S. 

Lalior ..n farm.. . 

U ?> -plans to increase, fi.', .1, aid 
Councils of Defense, 73. census and 
.urveys. ;.'.. >3, S4, !-.S; ellcct "f <lratt 
and enlistment, SI, Si; national, hlatc 
ana local ai.l, si, S3; »h'""f. ^^: 
15(l-ljs; soldiers released lor, S4, B.i . 
aid of cily men and labor unions, s..; 
women and children, b«, ST, increase 
in cost. 11'-'. lt>3 , 

i; K.— shortage, 184, 1S7, l'."J; aid of 
prisoners, interned aliens, so.diers, 
women and buys. 1S4, Iso, Is.. IJ'. 
skilled laborers exempted from rnili- 
tarv duty, Iss; wages hxed, ISS, ISJ. 
Ubor: Department of, 71. «.s... 80; See- 

rctarv ol. 7:i; Minister of. ISS. 
l.ad,l. tdw-ir,! I-.. 11!'. "..le. 
ljra_.,ff fork and pork products. 
I.ever. .\ I' , 1"1- , , ,,, 

l.ibr..ries: conservation work of. 111. 
Licences: legislation CDncerning, 10- lo-i. 

iVi- business licensed, 113, IK.; dealers 

,n wheat, r.'o; sugar dealers. 1 IT. US. 
Lil" stock -i.v t.„tle-llnrs,s and 

mules— Sheep -S" me 
Uoyd I'le.rge. Daiul, isa. 
Lough. T., an. 

Maine: »heat. ;.'s; hnancil aid, S7 , mar- 
ket aid, PS 
MarBaiiiie — J.e H.itler. 

Mnktis liureail "f: supervision of seed,, 
7i- pre«ar work, '.iJ; cooperation with 
rood Admin.st.ati"". ;i-' . ln;estigations. 
93; market report service, U3 tij; aid m 
shipping live Slock. '.H; m formation con- 
cerning hay and gram, M: standard.- 
z:ition U.".. enforcement of Icgisla.ion, 
or, ai.l in motor truck freight service, 
oi;' railway serMCC. '.17; reports on sup- 
plies an,i" prices. '.'7. 13H; cooperation 
wiih State ..^ncuUiir.al colleges. '.'8. 
Marvland: labor, S:i; milk l:;7. U'-'. 
Massachusetts: municipal Louncils ol Ue- 

frnse. 73, corn, 7s; milk, 138. 
Ma.intins, sugar supply "'•-""'•, ., . 
^lcat fSce also Hcef — I'ork - MuttonV 
U S — prices. .'iH; cold storage reports, 

94; control, r."»-133; exports, 133. 
V K — prewar conditions. 171; imports. 
179, IS-'; prices, aua, 203; statistics. 

Mcat"'nivision of rood .\dministration. 

Meatless ,ind whealless days, 129, 1:13. 
Michigan wheat, ■-•«; potatoes, 41; «ecd. 

7S. labor. >!"•: financial aid, 8'J; aid to 

marketing, '.IS 
Milch coves — -sif t ows 
Milk: ,. 

U. S.— prewar trad,- in, 21; prices. 60, 
136, 137, 1 "\ "1; troubles between 



producers and distributors, l.ll. 1"7; 
government tonlrol, IJo-Ua, statis- 
tics, 21 
U. K.— supply, 1T6; prices, I'.H, l'-'". 
2112. 2113. 211; shortage. 2ol; regula 
tion of price, 216, 21b; statistics, 2o2. 
Milk. Comimttec on rroductiun and Uis- 

iribuu.ui of tU. K.). 217, 
Milk Producers' Associations. 1.j«, 137. 
Miller, John S., 13S. 
.\lilner. Lord, 1»3, 187. 
Miner. Carl, 127, note 3. 
Minnesota: wheat, 2s, 122; potatoes, 41, 
cattle, is; war gardens, BO, note 4; laim 
land, 61. 
Mississippi: corn. 3;,. 
Misouri: wheat, 27, 28; corn, 3a, labor, 

S8. 
Montana: wheat. 2S. , , , 

Motor trucks: etiect of. on dem.ind tor 

horses, it; freight service I'l, '■'" 
Moving pictures theaters: food conserva- 
tion work of, 112, 113. 
^Ii.Ies — ifi- H.-rses and mules. 
Mutton: . 

U_ S. — prewar conditions. , 1.'. lo« 

statistics, 21, tiT 
I. K — imports, 17'J, ISo; pricei, 1115. 
statistics. 224. 



N 



ational Emergency Food r.ardcn 
mission, 80. 
.i\ V. Secretary of. 73. 
cbraska: wheal. 27, 2s, 121; corn, 

,;ats. 37; seed, 7s; labor. s3. so. 
i-w .lersey municipal Councils of 

fense. 73. 

ew Mexico: wheat, 23. 

lew York: wheat. 28; agricultural 

sus, 7'i; labor. 84; "uiancial aid, 

milk, 138. 
.'evada: »he.it. 2S. 
:orth Carolina: wheat, 27, 28; corn, 
.•orlh Dakota: whe:it, 28, 122; rye, 1 



Com- 



De- 



cen- 

8D; 



Oats: 

L" s.— prewar conditions, 8. 1«; prices, 
2G. ;>s. 140. loo. acrrjge. :i7 ; produc- 
tion. 3S; exports. 38, 30. statistics, 11, 
1'.'. 5o. M. 
y K — prewar conditions. 39, ITfl, l..>: 
acre.lge. IT.".; imports, 179, ISO; pro- 
duction. 179. 1S4 18«; prices. IS.I. 
ISfi, IsS. 1S9, IW. 197, 202; statistics, 
17i' 1S9, 202. 207. 208. 219-222, 22.'.. 
Ohio: wheat. 28: corn. 3.1; farm bd.or, 

83; financial ai.l. 88, S'.l 
Oklahoma: wheat. 28. 29. 12t: grain re- 
ports. 76: war gardens, SO, note 4; 
l.-ihor. 83; beef. 132 
O'f.eary, .lohn W.. 138. 
Oregon: wheat. 28. 

IVarson Formula. 139. 11" 
I'ennsvlvania: wheat. 28; lahor 'h^-^W. 
84: aid in marketing. 97; milk, 13,. 14i. 
Peru: sugar exports. 2or.. 
Philippine Islands: sugar exports. '-"J- 



INDEX 



231 



TiKS — see Swine. 

''uik ami pi'rk pruducts: 

U ^, experts, H. 3". ""'"^ KOVtrn- 
ment control, lis-U.'; statistics, 21, 

U, K.— imports, IT'J; prict!, 195, 19«, 
■J»i, '.'U; agency fur purchafinij, -'17; 
statistics, 2J4. 
rolatoes: „ , j 

U. S. — prewar production, 9; looa 
valui-, 1", -I-'; war uardcns, 40, 41; 
prices. 4". 41; acreage and rr™'^':- 
tion, 41; scarcity of seed potatoes, "K; 
standarduation, 95; legislation con- 
cerning, 1U4, 114; statistics, 11, 19, J", 
51. 
U. K. — prewar conditions. 9, 17o; acre- 
age, 175, I'-S; prices, ISO, 187, 199, 
208, '<i'i9; government aid and control, 
187, 191, 209-21'..'; statistics, 173, -''12, 
211, 219, 220, 223. 
Press: cooperation with Food -Xdminis- 

tration, 113. 
Price Committee (Grain Corporation): 

100, 118, 119, note. 
Profits of farmers — jce agricultural pros- 

Pro^hcJo, Rowland E., ISn. 102. 209. 213. 
Public S,ifct\. -ronimi^Mou of, SI. 

r.aiUvavsr cooperation ^^;t!. Hiireau of 
.Markets. 95, 97; congestion of freight 
tralTic, 96, 143. 

Reconstruction Committee, 1611. 

Religious and fraternal organirat.ons: con- 
servation work of. 111, ll'i- 

Rh.tt. R. Goodwin, 119. note. 

Rhondda. Lord, 213, 218. See also Food 
Controller. , 

Rice: imports. 9, 179; acreage m fl™r 
order, 200; statistics. 11, 19. aO, o/ 

RoVal' Commission on Sugar Supply. 205. 

Roval Commission on Wheat Supplies. 206. 

Russia: harley producti.m. ?; ''"^f'^' "^ 
rve exports. 34; oats exports, 3S, cotton 
imports, 44; sugar exports, 140. -o,,, 
Ihea, and barley exports 17S, 19S; egg, 
exports, ISO; supplies cut off, 180, IBl, 
205. 

''u' S- prewar conditions. 9, l.S; prices, 
"6 ;!; ;i4. 127, ICO; acreage, 33, 12.j, 
export's. 34; comparison with wheat, 
127; pl.ins for lOl", l-'"; slatistics, 
11. 19. .10, .'•.1. 
U. K.— imports. 34; llnor or Icr.^^.oO . 
prices. 2»S; statistics, 173, 2oa, 2'.-.. 

«;t T.ouis conference, 69, 70. 71. 72. 

Seed supplies: aid in securing. 71. .S; 
survev of stock. 75; legislation concern- 
ing, 75: scarcity. 7S; prices. 79. 

Pelbornr, Lord. 1S3. 

Shaw, Dr. .\nna Howard, 111. 

Shaw, Prof. Chas. Frederick. PI. 

Sh.rp: 

L'. S. prewar conditions. 14-1.; prices. 



.-,0 (,4 11,.,, lf)2. number on farm", 
64'; in' other countries, 64; statistics, 
13, 21, 59, 06, fi7. 
U K — prewar condiiions, 10, 1., 17). 
177; prices, 202, ::o3; statistics, 20:., 
220, 221, 225. 
Shipping: grain movements atiectcd l.y 
scarcity of, 5, 17K. 199; condition at ou ■ 
break of war, 2;i, government control, 
10. 190. 
Shorthill. J. W.. 119. note. 
Simmons-Underwood Tariff, 16. 
Skinner. J. H.. 130. 
South Carolina, corn, 35. 
South Dakota: wheat, 2s, 122; cattle, a8; 

gram reports, 70, st-vd. 7.s. 
State Food .Adminislrations; lormation, 
105, 100; co..|iirati"n with federal food 
.Sdi'iunistration, 10.N 14S; elforts in 
Chicago concerning milk, 141 
Submarines: ctTect of, on trade, 23, 172, 

174, 17-, ISO, ISl, 196, 19». 
Sugar: 

L'. S,— prewar conditions, 9; per capita 
consumption, ll.V. cause of shortage, 
140; exports, lio; conference of re- 
finers, 147; licenses, 110. 147: curtail- 
ment of consumption. 147. 14S; result 
of control. 14". 152; sta; -tics. 11, 19, 
50, 51, 52. 
Sugar Supply, Royal Commission on, 20o, 
""U. K.— imports, 9, 146, 177, 179, 205; 
government control, 147, 179, 205; 
prices, 196; statistics, 2"3. 223 
Sugar Committees 'National and Interna- 
tional!, 147, 14» 
Sullivan, James \V., 119, note, 
s;„rvevs— jce Censuses and surveys. 
Swift 'and Company: letter concerning cat- 
tle. 144. 
Swine: 

U. S.— prewar conditions, 14. 20; prices. 
50 1.'^ 12**. 100; number, O;:; pri c 
stabiliz'e.l, .:9-131; hog corn ration, 
130-132; conference of expe'ts, 13o; 
statistics, 13, 21, 59, r,r 67. 
UK — prewar conditions. 171 ; decrease 
in numbers, 177; prices. 2o2. ;o3; 
price control. 214; statistics, 203, 220, 
221, 225. 



Tabor, L, J, 119, note. 

Tariff (protectivel: dependence of sheep 
business on. 15; recommended f.r farm 
products, 1"''. 
Taussig, Frank \\ , 116, 
T.aylor, A. E., 176. 205. 
Tennessee: corn. :ij. 
Teter, Lucius. 13s. 
Texas: whejt. 27, 2P, 29, 124: corn, 3,.; 

cnttle, 58; beef, 132. 
Tobacco, 11. 19, 50, 61, .M, 101 
Trade, Board of tL'. K.l: powers 1.13, 
orders. 193, 215, 217; price regulation, 
215. 217. .,. 

Trade organizations: cooperation wnh 
Foo.l .\dministration, loO. 11". 



INDllX 



Tra.lc uim.ns: offers of, !■■ .iM f-irnicrs. 

f-5) 
Transportation con.pann>: (."operation 

with Food Administration, II*. 
Treasury Dtpartment, B8. 
Twine, It'J. if'-- 
Vtah. "heal, ■:-; -c.-,!, 7^; financial a«J, 



Vail, Tlieodore N., II'J, ii"te. 

Van IIi>e, Lharli-s K., 1M^, nutci lU. 

Vermont : wheat, *ti. 

Virginia; wheat, 28. 

Wages: increases in, 81, 87, 1«3; Boverij- 
menf reKulation, 188, 1.-9; statistic, M. 
War Department, 85, 03. Secretary ol, ,J. 
War I'inance Corporation, 88. 
War gnrdtns, 74. ^'*. 
War Office: farm Kiborers secured from 

ISJ. 
Warehouse Act. 00. 
Washington: wheat, 23. 
Water=. Henry .1 , U'.'. note. 
Welles. Mrs F.. 1'. 13« 
West Vircinia: lalior, S,!. 
Wheat <.rre also Wheat, government con- 

U. S. — prewar conditions, 6, 17, 1^. *"■ 
acreage, production and price, 23-'."."; 
l".i-lJ.5- summary of war influence 
nn. 59, Sn; exports, 3'l-3,3, 127. 12-1; 
conserratinn, 7n; comparison with 
other grains, 127; statistics, ,. U. 1 -'. 
OS iJii, 124. 12.'i. 
T- K — prewar conditions, 6, Ifi'^. 174; 
imports, 178, ISO, 192: acreage and 



production, 175, 183, 184. prices, 171, 
178 1"4, 18(1, rJ5, lUB, 107, statistics, 
173', IS'.i, 109, 2'ia, 2"7, 2»8. 21U 223. 

i;25. 

Wheal, government control ot : 

\J S. — tirain Corporation, 118; I'nce 
Committee, 118; prices fi.xed. 20, 1"1. 
IIU. 120. K'4, 12G. suspension of ex- 
changes. ' 120; feed prices 121; fiirm 
trs" standpoint, 122; relat.on of wheat 
prices to other prices. 123, 125, I. '7: 
control of consumption, 127; w'.eat 
saved and plans for future, 128. 
U K.— prices fixed, 1S«, 188. 180. I'.M. 
1H5 I'lil 2o7. 20h; whe.lt orders. 2oi.; 
exports prohibited, 207; flour mills 
controUe'l. 207. . , 

Wheat Supplies, Koyal Commission on, 

2')G. 
Wheatlcss and meatless days, 129, 1.13. 
Williams. W. A., 130. 
Wisconsin: wheat, 2S, 29; pota oes, 4 , .8 

club work. 76; seed. 7»; labor. 83; aid 

,n markelinu. 98; milk, 137. 138, 130; 

farmers' income. 164. , , . 

Women laborers — je« female labor on 

farms , . 

Women's organisations: assistance ren- 
dered by. ■'2, 111. 113. 

Wool: , . ,r ,e 1-. 

I- s_ prewar conditions. 1 •. !'•. '■. 
prices 4.^1. «S. 160, 182; military ne 
ressitv 04; production and importation 
r.r.-. g.i'vernment control. 66. 140; Sta 
tistics, 21. 66. 67 
[: K — imports. 170; prices, 
government control, 20«; 
202, 224. 



lO.'i. 19«; 
statistics. 



